Shimizu Kôshô (1911-1999) & Ken Matsuzaki (born 1950)Sqare bowl, Four seasons - Flowers, birds wind and moonSigned: Kôshô sho
Seals: unread
Technique: Pale and dark grey pottery with red overglaze calligraphy 27.8 x 27.8 x 7
Box: signed
Condition: fine
Box inscription [outside]: 益子 春夏秋冬皿「印」公照
[inside:] 松崎健造 花鳥風月 東大寺 公照書「印」東大長老、公照
Matsuzaki Ken zô, Kachô fugatsu, Todaiji Kôshô sho [seal:] Tôdai Chôrô, Kôshô [seal bottom:] 美斎 Bisai
Shimizu Kosho was born in the famous castle town of Himeji on January 3rd, 1911 and entered Todai-ji-Temple in Nara in 1927. Upon graduation in Buddhist studies from Ryokoku University in 1933 he took up residence at Tenryu-ji for four years to study and practice Zen under the guidance of the Abbot Seki Seisetsu (1877-1945). When he returned to Todai-ji, the first steps of his career were closely linked to the temple's teaching institutions. In 1947 he became Director of the school (which was later to become the still existing Todai-ji High School). In 1959 he was appointed the Director of the Monks' Academy (Kangakuin) at Todai-ji, and in 1963 became Director of Todai-ji Girls' School and Todai-ji Kindergarten. 1969 marked a turning point in Kosho's career, when he was appointed as Head of Religious Affairs of the Kegon Tradition. In 1975 the Abbot Kamitsukasa Kaiun (1907-1975) died and Shimizu Kosho was chosen as his successor, becoming the 207th Abbot of Todai-ji. He remained in this position for only a short time, resigning in 1981.
For the remaining nearly twenty years of his life, Shimizu Kosho was dedicated to the life of an artist. He became a prolific "eccentric" painter, calligrapher and figurative potter. Unlike most artist-monks, he did not limit himself to painting in only black ink, but enjoyed a full range of colours. His writing and painting styles are what may be described as obsessively impulsive. His clay figures are charmingly naive and sculptural refinement was clearly not one of his aims. In 1994, when the Shosha Art and Craft Museum (in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture), was founded, Shimizu Kosho was made its honorary director because he donated a large number of his artworks. He died on May 6th, 1999.
Ken Matsuzaki was born in Tokyo as the third son of the Japanese style painter Nihonga Painter Matsuzaki Shuki.
After he graduated as Ceramic Art major from Tamagawa University, School of Fine Arts, Tokyo in 1972 and started a pottery apprenticeship with Tatsuzo Shimaoka, Mashiko (Tochigi Prefecture).
In 1977 he built a kiln and established a workshop in Mashiko.
From 1978 onwards he showed in Japan jearly and from 1993 as well in the USA and England. His work can be found in many museum collections in Japan, the US, England and Israel
Price: EUR 800 / USD 920