Zenzo Fukushima

About the Artist

"Challenging tradition" to create high artistic quality

Zenzo Fukushima is a Living National Treasure for "Koishiwara ware" which was praised as "the extreme of the beauty of use" by art critic Muneyoshi Yanagi. He received the Grand Award at the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, where the highest level ceramics in Japan gather. Usually, one would think this appraisal and status would be permanent, but Fukushima says "I will not be highly praised with the same style", and moves on, seeking new expressions. He does the whole process from making clay to firing by himself. Although he was born to the family of a Koishiwara ware kiln, he does not cling to tradition and never forgets to take on new challenges. His representative work are the bluish pieces with a milky white finish. Although he does not carve patterns which are a characteristic of Koishiwara ware, his work is praised for its beauty.

Style

I make my pottery using porcelain clay from Koishiwara (also known as Nakano), iron ore, wood ashes, straw ashes, and feldspar. I do the whole process on my own from preparing the clay to baking.

Biography

• 1959
  Born in Fukuoka to the family of the Koishikawa ware Chigaiwa Kiln
• 1988
  Selected for the 35th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2000
  "Iron glazed bowl" purchased by the Imperial Household Agency (purchased three times from this year onward)
• 2003
  "Contemporary Master Ceramists of Western Japan“ at Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
• 2006
  "The Quintessence of Modern Japanese Ceramics" at Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
• 2007
  "Invitation to Modern Ceramic Art" at The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
• 2008
  "Craftworks of Today in Kyushu and Okinawa, Tradition and Creation" at Kyushu National Museum
• 2010
  "About the Tea Ceremony~A Viewpoint on Contemporary Kōgei (Studio Crafts)" at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 2013
  "From Crafts to Kōgei In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 2014
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
  Celadon Now: Techniques and Beauty Handed Down from Southern Sung to Today at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 2015
  Evaluator at the 62nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (4 more times after this)
• 2017
  Designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property for Koishiwara ware
• 2019
  Judge and Auditor at the 66th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2020
  Becomes Secretary General of Japan Kogei Association West Japan Branch
  Becomes Director of Japan Kogei Association

Awards

• 1991
  Received th Asahi Shimbun Gold Award at the 26th West Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1992
  Received the Grand Prize at the 15th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
• 2001
  Received the 8th Fukuoka Prefecture Cultural Award
• 2003
  Received the Grand Prize at the 23rd West Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
  Received the Japan Kogei Association President Award at the 50th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2004
  Received the Excellence Award at the 14th MOA Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition
• 2013
  Received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award at the 60th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2014
  Received the Japan Ceramic Society Award for the year 2013 (from the Japan Ceramic Society)
• 2019
  Received the Fukuoka City Cultural Award