Keshiki -Goma-

Ichiro’s Keshiki series. Keshiki (景色) means landscape in Japanese. In Bizen Art, the keshiki of a piece refers to the landscape of the surface formed through variations in color and texture. Ichiro designs the keshiki of his artwork intentionally, hoping that the various ways of interpreting his works will inspire people to engage in lively discussion when using the pieces in their daily lives.

In all but the central white space, the Goma pattern traditional to Bizen Art can be seen, creating a unique keshiki for this piece. Goma patterns—so named due to their resemblance to sesame seeds—are created when ash adheres to the surface of a work in a firewood kiln. As Bizen Art does not use any glazes or paints, the traditional Goma patterning is an important means of aesthetic expression for Bizen artists.

This piece exhibits the rustic charm of Bizen Art with its uneven and unglazed surface. The surface of a Bizen Art tableware piece will become smoother as it is used, encouraging one to contemplate how a piece of art attains new beauty when incorporated into daily life. 

Note: A display stand is not included with this piece.