April 4 - 30, 2003
2003 Japanese Ceramic Masterwork Series II
|
|
"Reflection of Silence" w/ 'Hotaru' (Firefly) glaze |
About the artist
In 1997, a camera crew from the Japanese national television NHK spent three months in the old pottery center Echizen to document the extraordinary work of a relatively young ceramic artist named Nobuhiko Fukushima, who created a new style of black pottery with an iridescent finish called ‘Hotaru’ (Firefly). In a country where ceramic art is held in the highest regards, such recognition is no trivial accomplishment.
Fukushima first studied woodworking in the Fukui Prefecture High School for the Deaf. (He lost his hearing to an illness when he was 11/2 years old.) After graduating in 1976, he developed an interest in art and studied oil painting. However, he soon discovered his true calling in ceramics and apprenticed under master potter Shichizaemon Kitano in Ota-cho, Nyu-gun. After three years of apprenticeship, he further honed his pottery skills for ten years in the Furukawa Touen pottery shop in Miyazaki-mura. In 1989, Fukushima established his own kiln, named ‘Hotaru’ after the unique luminescent silver-on-black glaze that he was developing. He began to explore new artistic visions with this glaze and with sculpting. He experimented with a multi-layered glazing technique to create images on his pottery. This eventually led to his spectacular ‘Sunset’ series of sculptural pieces.
Fukushima launched his solo exhibition in America at the Touching Stone gallery in 2001. The focus of that show was his ‘Sunset’ series of sculptural work. The current show ‘Iridescence’ focuses on his signature "Hotaru" (Firefly) glaze. Speaking through his wife with sign language, Fukushima explained that the ‘Sunset’ series symbolized not end of the day, but rather hope of a new tomorrow. A glimmer of that hope appears to shine through his luminescent ‘Hotaru’ works.
Click on images to view
Call 505-988-8072 or use inquiry form for information/order.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
"Moonglow" ceramic vase 7.5"Hx 7x 7" (Front & back views)
|
"Silver Lining" ceramic vase 9"Hx 9.5"x 7" (Front & back views)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
"Hotaru #3" ceramic vase 9.5"x 9.5" (Front & back views)
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Reflection of Silence" ceramic vase 7.5"Hx 13"x 8.5" (Front & inside views)
|
"When it gets dark enough, you can see the stars" 10"Hx 7"x 7" ( Click right panel to dim the light) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
"Sunset #6" ceramic vase 7.75"x3.5"x3.5"
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
"Glimmer" ceramic vase 11"Hx3"x3" (Two views) Sold
|
Ceramic vase 9"Hx4.5"x4.5" Sold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Crooked Path" vase 7.5"H x2"x2" Sold
|
"Medallion" vase 8.5"H x6.5"x6.5"
Sold
|
"Silver Moon" hanging vase 9.5" x 2" x2"
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Black Stone" hanging vase 5"x5"x2" Sold
|
"Hisago" ceramic lamp/ wood base 6.5"x3.5"x3.5"
|
Ceramic vase 10.5"H x2"x2" Sold
|
Fukushima’s passion for life is not limited to art making. In high school, he was a star pitcher for his school’s softball team. In 1975, he led his team to the National High School Softball Tournament. His athletic ability prompted the Students’ Softball League to change its old rule, which barred handicapped students from competing in national tournaments. In 1981, the year of International Handicapped People, Nobuhiko was chosen as a member of the Japanese delegation to tour America. He was greatly inspired by meeting Americans with various handicaps.
Interestingly, Fukushima was also a co-founder of a traditional Japanese ‘Taiko’ drum group called Wadaiko Haguruma (Cogwheel), whose members were all hearing-impaired. The players coordinated with one another by visual cues and by sensing the vibrations of the drum beats. In 1995, Fukushima debuted in the United States in a ceramic group show, entitled "Echizen: Eight Hundred Years of Japanese Stoneware", at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, Alabama. Two years later, he held a solo ceramic exhibition in Switzerland, where his drum group also performed for the benefit of a Center for AIDS.
Chronology
1957 Born in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture
1976 Graduated from Fukui Prefecture High School for the Deaf
Began apprenticeship under master potter Shichizaemon Kitano at Ota-cho, Nyu-gun
1979 Worked for the Furukawa Pottery Shop in Miyazaki-mura, Fukui Prefecture
Selected for the Fukui Prefecture Central Art Competition
1989 Established "Hotaru Kiln" in Echizen Pottery Village
1990 Solo exhibition, Claywork Echizen
1991 Echizen Pottery Exhibition, Seibu Department Store, Tokyo
Solo exhibition, Gallery Keirinkan, Fukui
1992 Solo exhibition, Gallery Sho, Fukui
1993 Solo exhibition, Gallery Keirinkan, Fukui
1994 Solo exhibition, Gallery Sho, Fukui
1995 "Echizen: Eight Hundred Years of Japanese Stoneware" - Pottery exhibition at the Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama
Solo exhibition, Gallery Keirinkan, Fukui
1997 "When Sunset Glows on Pottery" - Documentary on Fukushima’s work aired on Japan national television NHK
Solo exhibition, Gallery Keirinkan, Fukui
Solo exhibition, Zurich, Switzerland
Solo exhibition, Gallery Saikawa, Kanazawa
Miyazaki Cultural Encouragement Award
1998 Group show, Art Salon, Nara
1999 Solo exhibition, Gallery Sho, Fukui
2000 Echizen Pottery Exhibition, Seibu Department Store, Tokyo
Solo exhibition, Gallery Keirinkan, Fukui
Solo exhibition, Gallery Sho, Fukui
2001 Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Solo exhibition, Gallery Hyo, Fukui
2002 Solo exhibition, Gallery Ichinen-So, Shimane
Solo exhibition, Gallery Hyo, Fukui
2003 Solo exhibition "Iridescence", Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
