Poetic Reflections

Poetic Reflections

June 2- July 8, 2016 Monday - Friday 11:00am - 6:00pm

Ishiguro Munemaro Egakimon bachi 'Large Bowl with Sketch-like Patterning,' ca. 1949 3 x 13 7/8 inches

Ishiguro Munemaro Tanaka SajirŌ

Tanaka SajirŌ Bisha-karatsu chawan 'Karatsu Teabowl,' 2014 3 7/8 x 5 3/8 x 6 inches

Ishiguro Munemaro Tanseiyū tsubo 'Suiko rōyū' 'Pale Blue-glazed Vessel, Frolicking Water Sprites,' late 1960s 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Ishiguro Munemaro Kaku bon 'Caught-Fish Platter,' early 1960s 2 1/8 x 11 1/2 inches

JOAN B MIRVISS LTD

JAPANESE ART Antique - Contemporary 39 East 78th Street, 4th Floor | New York NY 10075 Telephone 212 799 4021 | www.mirviss.com

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Tanaka SajirŌ Kokuyō shinsha hanaike 'Copper-red and Black-glazed Vase,' 2016 11 1/8 x 6 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches

Poetic Reflections

ISHIGURO MUNEMARO (1893-1968)

Ishiguro Munemaro & Tanaka SajirŌ

Born in Toyama Prefecture, Ishiguro’s fascination

Joan B Mirviss LTD and Shibuya Kurodatoen Co., LTD are honored to present Poetic

own kiln and studio in the mountains of Yase, he

Reflections: Ishiguro Munemaro and Tanaka Sajirō, an exhibition diverse in scope, yet

dedicated himself to the creation of works inspired

ultimately unified by a sense of tranquility. The show provides an intriguing glimpse

by ancient Chinese, Korean and Japanese vessels,

into the mutual sources of inspiration that fed two minds of equally talented men.

never settling upon just one technique. Ishiguro’s

Although these two ceramists were from different generations and never had the opportunity to collaborate, Tanaka continues to look to Ishiguro as an artistic and scholarly model. From their broad exploration of glazing and firing methods to their love of Chinese poetry, these men share many interests that influenced two diverse,

with ceramics was first kindled in 1916 by his study of the Chinese language and arts. After opening his

Ishiguro Munemaro Senten jiwan 'Thousand-dots Patterned Stoneware Bowl,' 1940s 3 x 4 3/8 inches

Tanaka SajirŌ Bisha-karatsu chawan 'Takitsuse' 'Karatsu Teabowl, Rapids,' 2014 4 1/4 x 4 5/8 x 5 5/8 inches

stylistic breadth mirrors the change in perception of ceramics as a fine art that occurred in the 20th century. Consequently, he asserted an unprecedented amount of self-expression within

Ishiguro Munemaro Kinyō kōro 'Jun Ware Incense Burner,' ca. 1930 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 inches

Tanaka SajirŌ Suiyō takatsuki 'Green Leaf-colored Standing Vessel,' 2016 6 1/4 x 9 5/8 inches

Ishiguro Munemaro Tetsu-e tsubo 'Vessel with Iron-glaze Decoration,' ca. 1967 6 3/8 x 5 7/8 inches

Tanaka SajirŌ Tamayura chawan 'Teabowl, Sound of Dewdrops,' 2010 3 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches

Ishiguro Munemaro Shakohan gyo-mon hira-bachi ca. 1957 'Fish-patterned Black and Brown Shallow Bowl,' 3 1/4 x 13 inches

Tanaka SajirŌ Yakishime hanaike 'Unglazed Wood-fired Vase,' 2016 11 1/8 x 6 x 7 1/2 inches

the classical styles he admired. This is especially evident in the whimsical designs

yet harmonized, oeuvres. Tanaka and Ishiguro’s painterly brushwork, unctuous glazes,

on his chōku-gaki (crayon-applied glazing) platter and incised vase depicting suiko

and classical forms not only tell a story of their connection with each other, but also

(water sprites). In 1955, Ishiguro’s mastery of iron-glazes led to his inclusion within

with centuries of ceramic artists who came before them. In homage to Ishiguro, Tanaka

the first group of five ceramists to earn the prestigious designation of Living National

has carefully selected and created works for this show, as he carries the torch of their

Treasure. Masterworks by Ishiguro Munemaro reside permanently in important museum

shared aesthetic vision.

collections spanning three continents.

TANAKA SAJIRŌ (b. 1937) Ishiguro Munemaro Kaikyū wan 'Persimmon-glazed Bowl,' late 1950s 2 3/8 x 6 1/2 inches

Kyūshū-born Tanaka Sajirō was a speedboat racer

Tanaka SajirŌ Karatsu chawan 'Karatsu Teabowl,' 2010 3 3/8 x 6 inches

for many years in his youth. When he decided to exchange his fast-paced lifestyle for more intellectual pursuits, he immediately felt drawn to the local Kyūshū tradition of Karatsu, a ceramic style derived from Korean wares. Tanaka has a hands-on approach to his work from start to finish. He finds and digs his own clay from the Yamase hillsides, crafts his own tools and even built his own kiln in Ulsan, South Korea. Yamase clay has a soft feel and light color that brings out the best features in his glazing and produces an interesting, wrinkled texture in the feet of his teaware. Poetic Reflections will be Tanaka’s inaugural show in the United States, designed

Ishiguro Munemaro Kasai fūkizu wan; 'Bowl with Colorful Auspicious Design,' ca. 1967 2 1/8 x 5 1/2 inches Designed by Damon Graham © 2016 Joan B Mirviss LTD

to expose the balance that exists between his careful, controlled process and the impulses

Photography by Nomura Tomoya Ishiguro portrait courtesy of Nasu Mitsuo Tanaka portrait by ItŌ Takashi

Ishiguro Munemaro Kuro raku chawan 'Black Raku Teabowl,' ca. 1967 3 x 4 1/2 x 4 5/8 inches

Tanaka SajirŌ Jubuguro chawan 'Shakujō' 'Black Teabowl, Itinerant Monk's Cane,' 2014 3 1/2 x 5 x 5 3/8 inches

of his acute aesthetic senses. Tanaka’s artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions in Japan and internationally.