Sekisui Ito V

About the Artist

Pursuing One and Only Unique Mumyoi Ware

Mumyoi Ware is a type of ceramics made from red clay, mumyoi, produced near the gold vein of the Sado Gold and Silver Mine. Sekisui Ito V is the fifth generation of the Mumyoi Ware pottery, Sekisui Kiln, producing ceramics since the Edo period. He established his unique way of expression while respecting the tradition handed down for generations in Sado Island, and was designated as Living National Treasure for Mumyoi Ware in 2003. The "kiln mutation" series where the kiln mutation effects create unique boundary lines between the red and black colors, the "marble" series, where he kneads clay of different colors to create patterns, and the "Sadogashima" series where he uses rocks from Sado Island to create rough textures. His artworks of these series that represent his work have been added to the collections of famous museums and art museum including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and are highly evaluated in Japan and overseas. In 2024, he assumed the name "Sekijin Ito", and even today, after nearly 60 years since he started his career as a ceramic artist, he continues to create ceramics arduously.

Style

Mumyoi-yaki, the fine Japanese pottery made from reddish clay known as mumyoi. Producing the clay, the heart of Sado’s goldmine shares 200 years of history with people.
Akamizu Kiln has a long tradition that was started by ITO Tomizaburo (HAGUCHIYA Jinbei) during the Tempo period. His grandson Tomitaro called himself ITO Sekisui, and Sekisui II, III and IV followed this trade.
Their works received a number of awards at exhibitions at home and abroad, meanwhile the generations of the family were privileged with the honor of purchases by the Imperial family.
Since ITO Yoichi succeeded to Sekisui V in 1977, he has received numerous awards at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, Japanese Ceramic Arts Exhibition, international exhibitions and others. In 2003 he was appointed a holder of important intangible cultural property (living national treasure).

Biography

• 1966
  Graduated from Kyoto Institute of Technology, Ceramics Industry Department
• 1972
  Selected for the 19th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (Selected several times from this year onward)
• 1973
  Selected for the 2nd Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition (Selected several times from this year onward)
• 1976
  Recommended as Full Member of the Japan Kogei Association
• 1977
  Succeeded the name of Sekisui ITO (5th generation)
• 1980
  Inivited to submit to the Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition at the National Museum of History, Taiwan
• 1981
  Inivited to submit to the Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington D.C.) and Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
• 1982
  Invited to submit to the "Daily Ceramics" Exhibition sponsored by NNS (Nippon Television Network System)
  Invited to submit to the 7th Hong Kong Festival of Asian Arts Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition
  Invited to submit to the 1st Nationally Selected Traditional Craft Artists Exhibition. (Submitted several times from this year onward)
• 1983
  Invited to submit to the "30 Years of Modern Japanese Traditional Crafts" Exhibition sponsored by The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
  Artwork printed in "Modern Japanese Ceramic Arts" Vol. 9 published by Kodansha
• 1985
  Invited to submit to the Modern Ceramics Selection Exhibition sponsored by the Japan Ceramics Society (Submits several times from this year onward)
• 1987
  Judge and Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Invited to submit to "Modern Japan Traditional Ceramic Art Exhibition", a traveling exhibition sponsored by The Japan Foundation
• 1989
  Recommended to sybmit to the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, submits several times from this year onward
  Judge abd evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Artwork printed in "Modern Japanese Ceramics" published by Tankosha
• 1990
  Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Invited to submit to the Opening Commemorative Exhibition of The Ceramic Art Museum, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park
  "The Full Picture and Outlook of Heisei Ceramic Art" Exhibition
• 1991
  Selected for the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition without being evaluated (Not evaluated from this year onward)
• 1992
  Artwork purchased by the Akishinonomiya Imperial Prince
• 1993
  Artwork printed in "Japanese Ceramics / Modern Volume" published by Chuo Koron
  "Mumyoi-ware Natural Ash Glazed Vase" presented to the Owada family as a wedding gift for Crown Princess Masako
  Artwork submitted to the "Modern Japanese Ceramics" Exhibition in New York from the Mary Griggs Burke Collection
• 1994
  Judge and Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Mumyoi-ware Natural Ash Glazed Vase purchased by Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
• 1995
  Mumyoi-ware Natural Ash Glazed Vase printed in "Contemporary Japanese Crafts - Tradition and Avant-garde" published in the United Kingdom
  Submitted to auction for the Blanchette H. Rockefeller Fellowship Fund
  Submitted artwork to a bowl exhibition in Manhattan, New York
  Invited to submit to the "Japanese Studio Craft - Tradition and Avant-garde" Exhibition at Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
• 1996
  NHK BS TV program "Yakimono Tanbo - Sekisui Ito" filmed and broadcasted
• 1997
  Submitted to NHK's "Yakimono Tanbo" Exhibition
  "Ito Sekisui" - The World of Red and Flames 30th Anniversary Exhibition sponsored by Niigata Nippo
• 1998
  Judge and Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1999
  Judge and Evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Commended by the Niigata Governor (Arts and Culture Category)
• 2001
  Judge and Evaluator at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2003
  Invited to submit to the Japan Traditional Art Crafts 50th Anniversary Exhibition
  Designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure)
  "Living National Treasure Sekisui Ito" Anniversary Exhibition sponsored by Niigata Nippo
  Becomes Advisor of Japan Kogei Association
  Had an audience with the Emperor and Empress
  Tea ceremony for Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Property at the Imperial Palace
  Presented "Mumyoi Neriage Flower Patterned Incense Burner" to the Emperor and Empress through the governor of Niigata and Imperial Household Agency
  Invited to the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition (Invited every time from this year onward)
• 2004
  Judge at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Designated as Honorary Citizen of Aikawa City
  Invited to the "Japan's Traditional Art Crafts" Exhibition supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, exhibition tour to various cities in Japan
• 2005
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
  "Japan's Traditional Art Crafts" Exhibition supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, exhibition tour to various cities in Japan
• 2006
  "Living National Treasure - 50th Anniversary Exhibition" at Takashimaya, sponsored by NHK
  Tour exhibition around Japan"
  "Living National Treasure 'Today' Exhibition" at Mitsukoshi
• 2007
  "Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan:Celebrating Fifty Years of the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" at the British Museum, UK
  Evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Chief Judge at the Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2008
  "Master Craftsmen of Japan - Their Techniques and Beauty" filmed and broadcasted on BS-i (currently BS-TBS)
• 2009
  Judge and Evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Presented the "Mumyoi Neriage Plate" to the Crown Prince through the Governer of Niigata
• 2010
  Designated as Honorary Citizen of Sado City
  Received Honorary Doctorate from Kyoto Institute of Technology
• 2011
  Received The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
  "Japanese Modern Ceramics - Supreme Beauty of Tradition and New Style" Exhibition at Seto City Museum of Art
  Masterpieces of the National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo's Craft Gallery Exhibition at Fukui Prefectural Museum of Ceramics
• 2012
  Ise Jungu National Treasure Exhibition
  Atsuta Jingu National Treasure Exhibition
• 2013
  "From Crafts to Kōgei In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 2014
  "The Quintessence of Modern Japanese Crafts" Exhibition at Palazzo Vecchio (Florence, Italy)
  "Engendering Beauty, Preserving Techniques: Artworks by Living National Treasures" Exhibition at Tokyo National Museum
  Evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Chief Judge at the Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2015
  Documentary film "Mumyoi-ware 5th Generation Sekisui Ito's Techniques" produced by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 2017
  Solo Exhibition "Red Soil" in Manhattan, New York
• 2018
  "Large Bowl with Stripes" owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibited from November, 2018 to 2020 at the "Contemporary Japanese Ceramics in Historical Context" Exhibition

Awards

• 1980
  Recieved the Incentive Award at the 20th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Incentive Award at the 27th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1985
  Received the Grand Prize and Chichibunomiya Award at the 8th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
• 1987
  Received the Japan Ceramics Society Award
• 1997
  Received the Prince Takamatsu Memorial Award at the 44th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition（Artwork purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs）
• 1998
  Received the Niigata Nippo Cultural Award (Art Category )
• 2004
  Received the Special Award at a design competition for "Japan Plus", a government official bulletin for PR overseas

Public Collections

• Agency for Cultural Affairs
• The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• The Japan Foundation
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
• Ise Jingu
• Ise JIngu Gegu Kaguraden
• Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
• The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
• Niigata Prefectural Office
• The Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
• Niigata City
• NHK Niigata Broadcasting Station
• Tsurui Museum of Art
• Niitsu House
• Setsuryosha Museum of Art
• Chisoku Art Museum
• Sado International Art Museum
• Aikawa Folk Museum
• Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
• The Mary Griggs Burke Collection
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington D.C.)
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)