Tuesday, November 26, 2013

(Tokoname Potter) Gyouzan Nakano Yukizou

GYOUZAN         
Artist;  NAKANO Yukizou
http://www.bonsaivision.com/product-p/bv00f51.htm
SIGNATURE NAKANO Yukizo






Gyouzan--行山   (MOUNTAIN TRAVEL)
Actual name-- Nakano Yukizou-- 中野行三
(Born 1940-- Showa 15).
Apprenticed under Wada Yoshiyama, he opened an independent kiln in 1972 (Showa 47).
He specialized in colored clay pots, in sizes ranging from small and medium pots up to
extremely large shapes, until he had completed every possible size and shape of pot. He
exhaustively researched the ingredients of clays as well as the methods of ceramic firing,
and worked at reproducing the various clays from Chinese first-crossing pots, including: udei
(black, or crow-colored), toukadei (pink, or peach blossom), kakidei or shidei?? (reddish
brown, or persimmon-colored), shidei (purple), and shudei (vermilion or red). Then, around
1976 (Showa 51), he perfected his own original clay color-- akebono (shodei-- sunrise
color).
At first, he produced pots by firing them in an electric kiln, but starting in 1984 (Showa 59), in
response to a change in the ingredients of Tokoname clays, he had to switch over to a
gas-powered kiln. Moreover, his pot-making methods changed then due to a serious illness
and physical weakness he suffered shortly before switching to a gas kiln. He had been
shaping pots by hand while using a pressing-mold, then firing them in the electric kiln.
Because the larger pressing-molds are extremely heavy, he changed to using a footpedal
and string method, a purer form of the hand-made concept. Even now, far more of his
products are made just by hand, rather than using a mold
Gyouzan pots have an established reputation for both the shape and the quality of the clay
enhancing the beauty of the trees planted in them, and are known for quickly acquiring a
classic patina as they are used. Currently, he is considered among the makers of Tokoname
pots to be the most famous and accomplished top-ranked artist. In 2004 (Heisei 16), a
retrospective of his works was published, entitled Nakano Gyouzan: Splendor. A 35-year
Journey.
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