A metal glazed plate by Matsushita Hiroki, a popular artist known for designs that blend seamlessly into everyday life. Through his project “Utsuwa‑tsunagi,” Matsushita sought to bridge the world of art and the dining table—an idea reflected clearly in this understated yet refined piece. It is part of his well‑known Fugen Series and comes in an original wooden box signed by the artist, titled “Fugen Hassun zara.” The plate measures 24 x 0.8 cm (9 1/2 × 1/4 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Matsushita Hiroki (1977–2024) was born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture and encountered clay early in life, an engagement that deepened through formal study and culminated in a Doctorate in Fine Arts from Kyushu Sangyo University in 2009. His research on the Kakiemon style, conducted under the guidance of the Fourteenth-generation Sakaida Kakiemon and supported by the Ministry of Education’s 21st Century COE Program, placed him in direct dialogue with one of Japan’s most refined ceramic traditions. In 2017, he founded the studio-gallery Utsuwa Tsunagi (“vessels that bind”), reflecting his conviction that ceramics serve as quiet agents of human connection. Selected for the National Artists Exhibition at the Uenomori Art Museum in 2021, his career was marked by steady expansion and a sustained commitment to refinement. His works—often bearing metal-like surfaces tempered by warmth—embody a balance of rigor and grace, vessels shaped not only by discipline but by a gentle hand. Matsushita passed away in 2024. His loss is deeply felt, yet his spirit endures in the vessels he formed—objects that continue to accompany daily rituals with quiet gravity, inviting pause, touch, and connection.
