This exhibition is the culmination of discussions between two highly accomplished artists, which began last year.

In recent years, Mr. Maeda has been producing outstanding works of tea ceremony pottery, and his tea bowls in particular possess a strong presence, greatly increasing his reputation.

Mr. Murase, too, lives his life figuring out how to give "form" to the creativity that fills his heart. The tea utensils and lid rests he made at the end of last year, with their surfaces carved with a hatchet, were born out of this process and are truly original tea utensils.

Tokyo National Museum Honorary Member / Kikuchi Hiromi Memorial Satoshi Museum Director Harumi Hayashiya

Masahiro Maeda - Brief Biography

Born in 1948 in Kumihama-cho, Kyoto Prefecture.
Completed graduate studies in ceramics at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1975.
2005: Award of Excellence at the 1st Kikuchi Biennale
The workshop has moved to Roppongi, Tokyo, and the Roppongi Porcelain Club is being held.
2009 "Masahiro Maeda's Colored Pictorial Exhibition: Red, Black, Gold, Silver, Green, and Blue" (Chō Museum of Art)
56th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan Crafts Association President's Award
2010: 17th MOA Mokichi Okada Award, Crafts Division, MOA Museum of Art Award

Jihei Murase - Brief Biography
Born in Tokyo in 1957.
Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan High School of Arts in 1975.
Graduated from the Department of Sculpture, Tokyo Zokei University in 1980.
In 2001, he succeeded to the name of Jihei III and became the seventh generation woodturner.
Since then, solo exhibitions have been held in various locations, including Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Fukuoka Mitsukoshi, Isetan Main Store, and Ginza Matsuya.
2009: Production of hearth frames for Myokian and Taian tea houses.
Exhibited in 2010 at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Crafts Gallery, in the exhibition "Perspectives on Contemporary Crafts: On the Tea Ceremony."