Key Facts
• Gyokusen Kimura, a Bizen pottery artist, is known for traditional white Bizen works.
• He is experimenting with denim dye “indigo” to color marine life sculptures.
• Over 50 pieces, including 20+ species like giant salamanders and ammonites, are being created.
• The project aligns with the Setouchi International Art Festival’s autumn session starting October 2025.
• Kimura uses denim dye from Kojima, Kurashiki City, emphasizing his connection to Okayama.
• The process involves repeated dyeing and drying to achieve the perfect blue hue.
• Finished pieces are coated with lacquer for a polished look.
• The works will be exhibited at the Nozaki Salt Industry Historical Museum and the Old Shimotsui Shipping Agency in Kurashiki City.
• Kimura views this as a step toward evolving Bizen pottery for future generations.
Summary
Gyokusen Kimura, a veteran Bizen pottery artist with 30 years of experience, is innovating by dyeing traditional white Bizen pottery with indigo, a dye commonly used in denim. His latest project features over 50 marine life sculptures, including more than 20 species, inspired by the Seto Inland Sea. This initiative coincides with the Setouchi International Art Festival’s autumn session in October 2025. Kimura incorporates local materials, such as denim dye from Kojima, Kurashiki City, to highlight his Okayama roots. The intricate process involves multiple layers of dyeing and drying to achieve a natural blue tone, followed by a lacquer finish. The works will be displayed at two historical venues in Kurashiki City, showcasing Kimura’s vision of blending tradition with modernity to ensure the evolution of Bizen pottery.
