Shozo Michikawa (b. 1953) | Tanka vase

Erskine, Hall & Coe

A heightened sense of the power of natural forces is present in Michikawa Shozo’s fired works. Born in Hokkaido, Michikawa began his pursuit of the ceramic arts after graduating Aoyama Gakuin University in 1975. He settled his base of activity in Seto, Aichi Prefecture, an area that has had a long history of ceramic production. The rustic, slab-potted vase was formed after truncating and gouging a solid clay book placed on the wheel, which is then opened from the centre as the clay is worked outwards whilst it spins. Michikawa’s process and output exhibit highly petrological forms reminiscent of rock formations, earthy fissures and the beauty of primordial natural phenomena. In 2005, he was given the honour of being the first Japanese artist to have a solo exhibition in The Forbidden City, Beijing.

Michikawa’s works are in numerous museum collections, including the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, the Victoria and Albert Museum (The V&A), Musee Cernushi, Paris, and the Shimada City Museum.