Photography by Yano Tsutsumi
Born 1975, Tochigi, Japan
Though a young artist, IGUCHI DAISUKE's works are noted for their modern and elegant forms and their soft exterior surfaces. Using a highly unique process, he applies after an initial low-temperature bisque firing a classic ash glaze made from dried rice husks and re-fires at full temperature. When cooled, he sands the surface of each vessel with a special wire brush to bring about a slightly textured surface with a tarnished or oxidized appearance. Then, using thin masking tape, he creates geometric patterning with an application of silver-slip glaze, re-firing again at a lower temperature. After the final firing, he polishes the surface to bring out the desired effect. His techniques vary substantially, from firing times, clay color and degree of oxidation during that final firing, hence his surfaces also vary from work to work.
With the form, surface and decoration organically intergrated, Iguchi’s works can evoke a sense of the primordial, exuding a nearly magical force. While all contemporary works, his nominally functional works reference ancient forms and traditions offering as well a sense of nostalgia.
All his works are rice husk paste or rice husk paste and ash paste on stoneware. Some have an additional coating of metal oxide, mineral pigments, and/or silver slip.
In 2008, Iguchi won the Judge’s Special Prize, at Mashiko Togeiten, awarded by curator, Aoki Hiroshi. In 2014, he won the Governor of Tokyo Prize in the 54th Eastern Japan Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Despite his youth, Iguchi’s work is part of two important museum collections, those of the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art and the Ibaraki Ceramic Museum. His vessels continue to attract attention in the ceramic centers where he works and regularly exhibits.
Multi-fired broad-shouldered charcoal gray vessel with tapering narrow base
2022
Ash-coated stoneware with silver
6 1/4 x 7 5/8 x 10 7/8 in.
SOLD
Charcoal gray columnar vessel with curving interlaced patterning in silver slip
2019
Ash-coated stoneware with silver slip glaze
12 3/8 x 6 7/8 x 6 7/8 in.
Inv# 11273
SOLD
Narrow footed slope shouldered gray vessel with meader pattern in silver glaze
2017
Ash-coated stoneware with silver slip
13 1/4 x 17 3/8 x 14 3/8 in.
Inv# 10306
SOLD
Lobed vessel with flared neck, tapered foot, and striated pattern in silver
2017
Ash-coated stoneware with silver slip
18 x 11 3/4 x 11 3/8 in.
Inv# 10305
SOLD
Dark blackish-brown rounded vessel with wide open mouth and curvilinear patterning in silver slip
2019
Silver and rust-glazed stoneware
8 1/2 x 12 3/4 x 11 1/4 in.
Inv# 11271
SOLD
Elongated vase with flared mouth and enlarged center
2013
Glazed stoneware
17 1/8 x 7 5/8 x 6 3/8 in.
Inv# 8324
SOLD
Vertical rectangular vase with faceted sides and diagonal slit and metal file-impressed surface
2011
Impressed stoneware
13 1/2 x 7 5/8 x 4 in.
Inv# 7484
SOLD
