A fabulous split vessel covered in radical ash, rivulets of molten glaze fingering around the body by important Bizen pottery star Baba Takashi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yohen Shino Hana-ire. Shino is a departure for this young artist, a new direction he has recently begun exploring with great affection. This vessel embodies both his traditional aesthetic, as well as some qualities hitherto not found in his body of work. It is 17.5 cm (7 inches) diameter, 31.5 cm (12-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Baba Takashi, a ceramic artist specializing in Bizen ware, was born in 1983 as the eldest son of Bizen ware artist Shosuke Baba. He graduated from the Department of Sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2006. He has exhibited internationally, including solo and group exhibitions in the UK, China, the UAE, Taiwan, the Philippines, Germany, and Italy as well as featured at major events abroad. Starting with being selected for the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition in 2008, he was a finalist for the Itazaki Shigeo Ceramics Award at the International Ceramic Exhibition, Mino, in 2011. He continued to receive recognition, being selected for the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition, Chugoku Branch, in 2015 and the Tea Utensils Exhibition in 2016. Last year, he won an award once again at the International Ceramic Exhibition, Mino. With his expertise in traditional Bizen pottery and international recognition, Baba continues to expand the global appreciation of Japanese ceramics.
