瀬戸内市からお届けする　やきもののある暮らし　須恵器・備前焼・虫明焼

Setouchi City in Okayama Prefecture has flourished as a production center for "Sue ware" since the Kofun period. This hard, bluish-gray pottery, which was introduced from the Korean Peninsula, has supported people's lives as tableware and ceremonial tools.
Sue ware gradually disappeared, but in the Heian period, Bizen ware emerged as a type of pottery that inherited the techniques of Sue ware. By firing the pottery using only clay and fire, without the use of glaze, the "landscape" created by the flames and ash inside the kiln is unique to each piece. Its charm lies in the one-of-a-kind expression that is born from the interplay of chance and skill.
During the Edo period, another type of pottery, "Mushimei-yaki," which was influenced by Kyoto ware, began to be produced in Mushimei, Oku-cho, Setouchi City. Mushimei-yaki is characterized by its greenish namigusuri (ash glaze) and its thin, elegant form, and has been highly valued as tea ceremony utensils.
Then, in 2016, the "Sub-Sue Project" was launched to revive Sue ware in the modern age. Potters in the city are taking on the challenge of recreating ancient techniques.
This exhibition introduces five artists from Setouchi City who work with Sue ware, Bizen ware, and Mushimei ware. Each artist approaches the possibilities of ceramics from a different perspective, creating works that reinterpret ancient forms in a modern way, works that pursue new expressions by focusing on materials and firing techniques, and works that create new expressions while inheriting tradition.
Furthermore, this time, in addition to appreciating these ceramics as something special, we would also like to introduce a "ceramics subscription service" that delivers ceramic pieces by artists on a regular basis, so that you can enjoy them in your daily life.
We hope this will provide an opportunity to enjoy pottery in your daily life, by allowing you to experience both the ancient pottery culture and the sensibilities of contemporary artisans.