Hiroyumi Suzuki

鈴木大弓

Ceramic Artist • 1981 –

Hiroyumi began making ceramics while still in university, and after graduating, he studied in Korea. After returning to Japan and gaining experience in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, he became independent and now has his own studio in Iga, Mie Prefecture. He has been working on a wide range of ceramics, including works in the style of Joseon ware, such as Kohiki, Mishima, and Hakeme, as well as in the Yakishime style of Shigaraki ware and such. In recent years, he has also increasingly worked with Shino ware, challenging himself to produce works in a variety of styles. He pursues his own style with his solid skills while still engaging with the charm of the classics.

BASED IN

Iga, Mie Prefecture

WEB SITE

hiroyumi-s.jimdo.com

POINT OF VIEW

The powerful presence of red clay peeking out from under a dignified and soft white slip. Hiroyumi’s works, which change their expression and grow ever more attractive with each use, seem to reflect both the strength of the artist’s enduring core and his easygoing and generous nature, and his never-ending growth and development as an artist. His spirit of inquiry, which has led him to cross the sea in his continuing exploration of the path of ceramics, and his drive to continually challenge himself to create new works, are sure to result in more beautiful creations into the future.

CRAFT ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

1981: Born in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
2005: Apprenticed in Mungyeong and Gyeongju, Korea
2009: Established independent studio in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture
2010: First solo exhibition at Gallery Toen, Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture
: Solo exhibition at Gallery Tosei, Osaka (continued annually since then)
2011: Solo exhibition at Gallery Hiirono, Tokyo (continued annually since then)
2012: Solo exhibition at Art Salon, Mitsukoshi Sakae, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture (continued every other year thereafter)
2013: Exhibited at Takashimaya Art Salon, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture (repeated in 2015)
: Solo exhibition at Daimaru Kobe Art Gallery, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture (repeated in 2015)
2016: Moved his studio to Iga, Mie Prefecture
: Solo exhibition at ceramic art gallery Ginza Kuroda Toen, Tokyo

Related contents

INSIGHTS

"Shigaraki” – Hiroyumi Suzuki Solo Exhibition

Exhibition • Event Report VOL.13

From March 26 to March 30, 2022, a solo exhibition by Hiroyumi Suzuki, a ceramic artist from Iga, Mie Prefecture, was held at the Gallery Hiirono in Eifuku, Tokyo. Gallery Hiirono is a long-established gallery that has been showcasing and selling ceramics made by contemporary artisans for more than 20 years. Since 2011, Hiroyumi has held a solo exhibition there every year. This year’s exhibi...

KOGEI STANDARD May 23, 2022

RESOURCE

Joseon ware
- Generic term
Ceramics and porcelain produced on the Korean peninsula during the Joseon dynasty (14th century onward). Following the development of Funseisaki ware, known through such representative styles as Mishima (using inlaid decoration or inka stampings), Kohiki (using white slip and a clear glaze for decoration), and Hakeme (with a white slip brushed on), white porcelain and decorative techniques such as Sometsuke (blue and white porcelain), Tessha (iron-brown decoration), and Shinsha (red-copper decoration) also flourished. Joseon ceramics were introduced to Japan by Soetsu Yanagi through his mingei (folk art) movement, and attracted many enthusiasts.
Hakeme
- Technique
The technique of applying slip (a liquid clay mixture used to decorate pottery) with a brush to the base material and firing it with a transparent glaze. (Hake-me literally means “brush marks” in Japanese.) Various brush strokes can be created by the combination of slip, brush material, and how it is used.
Kohiki
- Technique
A firing technique wherein the entire surface of a base is covered with white slip (a liquid clay mixture used to decorate pottery) and then with a transparent glaze before firing, producing a characteristic soft texture. Also known as kofuki.
Mishima
- Technique
One of the decorative techniques known as zogan or inlaying. The technique involves decorating the base material before it dries with patterns such as patterned stamps (inka), or carved lines; applying slip (a liquid clay mixture used to decorate pottery) to the depressed areas; and finally coating transparent glaze over and firing the piece.
Shino
- Generic term
- Technique
A type of Mino ware which first appeared in the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568–1600), as well as a general term for ceramics in which a white Shino glaze (based on feldspar) is applied to the “Mogusa-tsuchi” clay. There are several types of Shino ware, including Muji-Shino (plain), E-Shino (picture), Nezumi-Shino (gray) and Beni-Shino (crimson).
Shigaraki ware
- Generic term
A style of ceramics produced in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture. Fired at high temperatures without glaze, it is characterized by a tactile landscape resulting from its coarse base material and natural ash glaze. One of the six ancient kilns in Japan.
Yakishime (Unglazed stoneware)
- Classification
Forming clay and letting it dry before firing at high temperature as much as 1100~1400 degree Celcius without biscuit firing or glazes.

KOGEI STANDARD Japanese Crafts Online Media

KOGEI STANDARD

Hiroyumi Suzuki

POINT OF VIEW

CRAFT ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Iron-Glazed Flower Vase

Kohiki Tea Bowl

"Shigaraki” – Hiroyumi Suzuki Solo Exhibition