CONNECTIONS X 3

I think it is rather safe to say that by looking at this vase it would be rather hard to draw a connection to Ningen Kokuho, Kondo Yuzo but if you could or did, it would be a very safe bet. This haiyu, ash glazed and wood fired vase was made by Takayama Koh (b. 1943) who studied with Kondo Yuzo early on in his career but also spent time at the studio of Kamoda Shoji where he learned more about  sculpture and form and was also introduced to the wide array of pottery that was made at his workshop. If you add to Takeyama's exposure to Kondo and Kamoda that he later became rather interested in Nanban style pottery and went and worked at Tanegashima for a year, you get a fuller picture of the influenced that go in to his pottery. Looking at this particular pot, it is easy to spot the influences of Kondo's porcelain vase forms with the addition of creating marks in a way that Kamoda was well known for. The rich ash glaze matches well with the brick red clay which is very similar to some of his Nanban pottery pieces and his unglazed and wood fired Komainu sculptural. There is no way to dispute that every artist and craftsman is an amalgam of teachers, historical influences, life experiences and preferences but it is the those that walk along their own path with their own voice that many times have the most to say and this simple, even humble vase has plenty to say preferably in a two sided conversation.