[Heral Bonnie] A collaboration between Hosai Matsubayashi, the 16th generation of Asahi ware, and a unique artist from Heral Bonnie, creating one-of-a-kind tea utensils.
*Heral Bonnie*
Press release: September 18, 2024
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A collaboration between Hosai Matsubayashi, the 16th generation of Asahi ware, and Heralbony Isai artists has created one-of-a-kind tea utensils.
*Tea utensils will be sold in limited quantities at the online store from September 18th*
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HERALBONY, an art lifestyle brand developed by Heralbony Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as HERALBONY), is a collaboration with Asahiyaki, a pottery with a history of over 400 years in Uji, Kyoto. Twelve artists from Atelier Yaho!! created works with the theme of “autumn” on the tea bowls and confectionery plates of the Asahiyaki workshop produced by Mr. Hosai, creating one-of-a-kind pieces. The tea utensils will be on sale at HERALBONY’s online store from September 18th (Wednesday). *
The tea utensils were actually used at a special tea ceremony held in early September by HERALBONY and TeaRoom, a startup that aims to bridge culture and industry through the tea ceremony and tea industry. The tea ceremony was inspired by the words of Wabicha founder Juko Murata, who said, “blur the boundaries between Japanese and Chinese,” and through tea utensils created by artists with
disabilities, people can naturally interact without being aware of the boundaries of their disabilities. This event was held to give people a chance to experience what society is like.
Asahiyaki 16th generation, Pine Forest
This collaboration came about because Mr. Toyosai sympathized with this concept. Please enjoy this special collaboration item between HERALBONY’s vision of “creating culture for 100 years ahead” and Asahiyaki, which has supported tea ceremony culture for over 400 years.
* ■Product introduction*
All pieces are one-of-a-kind pieces created in collaboration between the unique artist and ceramic artist Hosai Matsubayashi, the 16th master of Asahiyaki. It was painted by a different artist with the theme of “autumn” and was fired by the Uji pottery “Asahi-yaki”. The fusion of the free brushstrokes of a unique artist and the rich expressions of Asahi ware, which boasts a 400-year history, expresses a wish for a “society where people can interact naturally without being aware of the boundaries of disability.”
* The only tea utensil in the world by Hosai Matsubayashi, the 16th generation of Asahiyaki *
Matsubayashi, the 16th generation Asahiyaki artist who sympathized with the concept of this tea ceremony.
All tea utensils fired by Hosai are one-of-a-kind. Each piece has a different appearance, such as contemporary works with an impressive bright and inviting light blue moonwhite glaze, and works with unique spots called “kase” created by the kiln process, which is a traditional feature of Asahi ware. Please enjoy it.
* Valuable works by unique artists *
He is a unique artist who usually paints on canvas or drawing paper, but by painting on Asahiyaki Uji soil, you can enjoy a different expression than usual. This is a valuable work that gives us a sense of the new history of Japanese culture, which has developed in harmony with different values.
* Tea bowl｜HERALBONY × Asahi ware 16th generation Hosai Matsubayashi*
* Plate ｜HERALBONY × Asahigama*
Price: 12,650 to 228,000 yen (tax included)
*The price includes the wooden box and varies depending on the product. Sales page: https://store.heralbony.jp/collections/teautensils
* ■Comment from Hosai Matsubayashi, 16th generation Asahi ware*
It was a huge and valuable experience for me to participate in a project with the wonderful concept of “blurring the differences between Japanese and Chinese.”
Each of us is different, and we all have things in common.
This time, I was able to create a piece with an artist from Atelier Yahoo!!, who has a contract with HERALBONY, and when I saw the finished product, I was asked, “What do we consider good?” I felt that I had created a work that asked me a very fundamental question as a creator.
Just because something is technically superior or has an excellent design doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good thing.
And when I get rid of the illusion that there are good things that are common to everyone, what do I feel is good? The question appears before you.
Each picture is definitely powerful.
I’m sure this is because the paintings were filled with joy. I felt this very pure emotion intensely in my atelier.
When you come into contact with the individuality of each work, you may find one that touches your heart.
I believe that you and the creator of something that touched your heart will definitely have something in common.
As someone who helped create these works, I would be very happy if you could come into contact with these works and ask yourself again what “good things” and “things you like” are for you.
* Hosai Matsubayashi *
Born in Uji, Kyoto, in an Asahiyaki family with a history of over 400 years. After learning to use the potter’s wheel in Kyoto, he trained under his father and worked as a potter at the Leach kiln in St. Ives, England, before assuming the name Hosai XVI. Using the clay left behind by successive generations, he mainly produces tea pottery, including traditional works such as deer back and red deer, as well as Tsukishiro glazed ryushi in his own style, and has also expanded his activities overseas. It’s expanding.
https://asahiyaki.com/
* ■List of artists participating in the project*
Miyu Ishihara / Yuriko Kodera / Yukihiro Kuniho / Kota Kimura / Masahiko Kimura / Shion Nishimura / Masaharu Hiyoshi / Miyuki Higo / Hitoshi Shimazu / Masaoka
Minami / Yasutaka Minami / Hiroshi Yoshida
* ■Key visual performer*
*Masaharu Hiyoshi*
This is my third year at Atelier Yahoo!!, an art group at Fushimi Gakuen in Kyoto City. Since the beginning of the school, he has been drawing pictures of people, landscapes, food, etc., and has recently started making paper-covered pictures in addition to that. Line drawings are the standard drawing style, but recently coloring has become more common. While he accurately depicts detailed motifs such as the folds of clothes and the patterns of tiles, there are also parts that are not drawn at all or abstract expressions, and the contrast between them is interesting. The solid black lines convey a sense of boldness.
* Higo Miyuki*
At Atelier Yahoo!!, she is like everyone’s older sister, and creates works freely using colored pencils, watercolors, embroidery thread, etc. depending on her mood at the time. The creatures and plants that appear in her works range from cute ones to mysterious ones that even the author herself doesn’t understand. Every work is a colorful world that exudes kindness.
* ■Atelier Yahoo!! (welfare facility)*
Kyoto City Fushimi Gakuen (a living care facility) is located in Fushimi Ward, south of Kyoto City, where sake breweries still remain. Among them, the art group that was born in 2008 is called “Atelier Yaho!!”. Initially, we started creating for therapeutic purposes, but soon more members started creating their own works, and now they are exhibited at exhibitions both domestically and internationally. Recently, in addition to creating, I have been planning and
implementing activities such as improving health (stretching, yoga, etc.), improving daily life skills (Yahoo Kitchen), and interacting with the local community (Yahoo Market). We work with the idea that each member can live a happy and lively life.
* ■Staff credit*
-STAFF-
Creative Producer: Rina Park (Heral Bonnie)
Creative producer: Miyu Nakatsuka (Heral Bonnie)
Assistant: Watsuki Sakurai (Heral Bonnie)
Project Manager: Hikaru Takagi (TeaRoom)
Creative Director: Nozomi Kawano (TeaRoom)
Tea master: Sosho Mitsukubo / Sosuke Iwamoto (TeaRoom)
Photographer: Eichitano