The pale pink of cherry blossoms is alluring, yet somehow ephemeral. This spirit of scattering blossoms is an aesthetic that the Japanese people have cherished and loved deeply.

The subtitle of this exhibition, "Rondo Under the Cherry Blossoms," refers to Tomoyuki Hoshino 's installation, which is inspired by the image of a young man and woman dancing under cherry blossoms.

The costumes and facial features are expressed using various techniques such as intaglio, chamfering, and single-sided carving. Not only does the vase made of white porcelain clay mixed with pink represent a woman, and the vase made of gray porcelain clay mixed with white represent a man, but the way the clay expands vigorously through the mixing technique also expresses the exhilarating feelings of the man and woman dancing under the cherry blossoms.

The appeal of Hoshino's work lies in its powerful, spiraling forms and the exquisite balance of negative space and patterns. However, the works in this exhibition reveal a deepening of his work, not only in its superficial aspects but also in its inner depths. Approximately 80 pieces will be on display, primarily focusing on vases, tea sets, and tableware, all imbued with such captivating charm.

Kouichi Mori (Art critic, Standing Director of the Japan Ceramic Society)