Bigei - Hirata Atsumi
Hirata Atsumi is a very popular potter from Tokoname, Japan. He produces mostly unglazed shohin, and some chuhin sized pots. They are often simple in design, to complement the tree, yet beautifully constructed. He is best known for his distinctive shaded shudei (vermilion clay) with its burnished look. He also produces some glazed pots, and his recent work is decorative, with for example, beautiful landscape etchings, carvings, and relief work.
Born in 1939, Bigei taught himself the art of ceramics from age 19. He established his own kiln in 1975, which is now closed. The very rarest Bigei pots are merely marked '山水作' - 'San Sui made', as can be seen under 'Bigei painted pots'. |