"My work began in
England, learned much in Okinawa and matured in Mashiko......" Hamada Shoji
Illustrated is a
mizusashi by Mashiko legend, Hamada Shoji. The full form has a perpetually wet
appearance and the striking underglaze sugar cane motif appears to have only
just to have brushed onto the pot in the blink of an eye. The ash based clear
glaze has created Hagi like areas of blushed spotting running from beige to
pink most noticeable around the underglaze decoration. There is a palpable
tension in the form and profile of the pot that almost appears to be contained
by the fluid and casual expression of the
brushwork of the potter, who had painted the same design, many thousands
of times before. I don't doubt there are better pots by Hamada, but few have the
unrestrained sense of fullness and animation that this water pot contains.
.JPG)