Hiroshi Goseki started his career as an apprentice to the living national treasure, Jun Isezaki, father of Koichiro Isezaki.
The Isezaki family, famously known for their lengthy generational history in Bizenware, became essential towards Hiroshi Goseki's artistic career.
The philosophoes of Bizen Pottery, including the appreciation of material and patience through firing started to bleed into his own artistic practice.
After his apprenticeship, taking his newfound knowledge and experience with Bizen, Hiroski Goseki was anxious to build a kiln in Bizen; however, due to land restrictions, he failed to achieve this vision.
Instead, he was able to rent some land in Ibaragi Prefecture in the isolated countryside and there, he established his home and studio practice.
He is surrounded by trees and nature. He collects and cuts fresh firewood from his surroundings and uses them to fire his kiln.
"I spend more time using a chainsaw and axe to cut firewood than I do making work on the potter's wheel"
His forms are in flux, the shapes are constructed partly on the potter's wheel and party through handbuilding. The soft yet full bodied forms are coated in a matt glaze with beautiful earthy colors and vibrant navy blues. When looking closely, one can see the influence of Bizen in his work. The flow of the glaze on the black tea bowls are central yet spontaneous on the surface of the form. The red flashing characteristics on the white clay body reflect that of traditional Hidasuki firing techniques and aesthetics.
The undulating lip on his forms feel almost as if the clay had been organically torn from the form itself. The lip is charming and unique and as the form is held in the palm of the hand, the warmth of the firing seems to radiate through the object and into the soul of the viewer.
