Illustrated is a robust,
classical Bizen tsubo on a broad pedestal style foot by Masamune Satoru
(1954-2006). I have written a bit about Masamune in previous posts, his work
has a tremendous sense of traditional Bizen styling and firing and I am especially
interested in how he handles clay without pretense or any sense of fussiness.
This medium sized tsubo has a wonderful and compelling sense of form and volume
from the delicate and sexy mouth to the tautness about the belly and the
surety of the wide and purposeful foot, there is nothing superfluous about this
piece and it is a perfect amalgam of the old and the new. The pot was fired as
to create a rich ash surface around the mouth, shoulder and belly with the foot
being banded in ash as well and the underside of the piece has a nice purple
toned surface that contrast in perfect harmony with the upper half of the
tsubo. Having seen a number of pots by Masamune Satoru, his use of clay and
fire creates a simple array of evocative surfaces and vessels that echo the
past while having as much to say about a modern potters vision and voice of the
20th century. Its Wednesday so here is a
flashback to another time and place, Wall Of Voodoo, MEXICAN RADIO;
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