There is a lot one can say about
Funaki Kenji (b.1927) from idealist to a staple in the Mingei tradition. Unlike
most of the post-war potters, Kenji embraced the teaching of both Bernard Leach
and Yanagi Soetsu and in doing so fused together a distinctly Japanese sensibility
with hints of Old English pottery and his personal mingei journey. This journey
started under the tutelage of both Leach and his father, Funaki Michitada
(1900-1963) creating a foundation for a dedicated mingei style. Working on the
shoulders of the Fujina tradition and the Fujina-gama, founded in 1845, Funaki
Kenji has crafted work that is direct, honest and aesthetically pleasing. His
forms and glazes maintain a balance of function and practical utility but the simplicity
of his pottery is betrayed by the luminescence and depth of the surfaces
married well to strong and noble pots. Illustrated is a rather utilitarian covered
jar, at its core a pot for everyday use, but examine the various details, the
handles and knob are both practical and aesthetic considerations, the volume
and decorative accents animates the verticality of the pot and rich, lustrous
glazes encapsulate the piece to bring it all together and to life. It is a
functional pot for everyday use, but the truth of the pot is, it is so much
more.
"The pure and simple truth
is rarely pure and never simple." Oscar Wilde
.JPG)