Tea Bowl, Strawberry Milk

Tomoyuki Hoshino’s “Tea Bowl, Strawberry Milk” is hand-built from pink-colored Shigaraki clay and finished with a generous coating of lime glaze. The contrast between the vivid pink clay body and the thick white glaze creates the appearance of strawberry milk gently cascading over the surface. Inspired by this impression, the artist gave the work the name Bainyu, meaning “strawberry milk.” White feldspar particles emerging through the clay resemble grains of sugar sprinkled throughout, evoking memories of that familiar, comforting sweetness. The bowl’s softly undulating rim, expressive hand-built form, and carefully carved details further illustrate the vitality of the artist’s touch.

For many years, Tomoyuki has placed the color pink at the center of his artistic practice. To him, it serves as a symbol of desire, deep-seated human impulses, and the emotions that are often suppressed in everyday life. In this work, color functions not merely as decoration, but as a means of projecting his essential self. Beneath its approachable and sweet appearance lies a quiet yet penetrating reflection on the human condition. This bowl invites viewers to look beyond its playful surface and encounter the deeper currents of feeling that reside within.