The cry of a soul yearning for freedom

Red like hot blood flowing. Stylish and metallic black and gold and silver glitter. What resounds from its overwhelming presence is like a ``howl for freedom.''Toru Ichikawahas liberated Bizen ware from the concepts that had previously confined it to modern society and life with its intensely dynamic beauty.

Ichikawa has been aware of inconvenience since he was young.
``Anyway, I wanted to be free. I was in a situation where I felt extremely inconvenienced by the influence of society, such as my living environment and the structure of society, so I was always seeking freedom.'' This desire probably led him to create production methods and expressions that no one had attempted before, breaking away from a style that strictly adheres to formality and tradition. The theme of his second solo exhibition was ``Utakata,'' an expression of his determination to be free and to allow his works to continue to change, like bubbles floating on the surface of water.

His representative series, with its striking bright red color, is called ``Hagakure''.
There is a very famous theory written in the book ``Hagakure'' written by Tsunetomo Yamamoto, ``Bushido means dying and finding out.'' By being aware of and prepared for the ``death'' that one must face, one can live a virtuous ``life'' that is not based on calculation. Tsunecho wrote that it is only through the determination to die again and again in the morning and evening that one can ``obtain freedom in martial arts.'' Ichikawa, who says that he has always wandered between life and death since he was young, has probably acquired a free spirit unfettered by anything by focusing on the tension between life and death.

At the same time, Ichikawa's freedom is different from self-centered self-indulgence.
``A tree burns and turns into flames, the flames turn to ash, and the ash turns into soil, which returns to the earth.There is a cycle like that.We live in such a cycle.There is a working of the universe, or rather, a truth of the universe, and I am following it. Although I have a spirit that rebels against society, I believe that I am actually following the truth of the universe.'' Ichikawa found inspiration in the correlation and circulation of the five elements of the ancient East (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), which also connect with his own ceramic production process. By humbly listening to the great workings of the universe and submissive to the great things, we gain the freedom to not be bound by the trivial old habits of the earth.

What is outside already exists within.
The comfort and strength of being free. The heat and nobility of being alive manifests itself in front of us with a powerful impact.

B-OWND