Iguchi Daisuke

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.