I
remember back when I first read the book, PLAYFULNESS IN JAPANESE ART by Nobuo
Tsuji, he discussed the purposefully altered, distressed and distorted vessels
used for tea ceremony as "warped and comical". At the time I took
this at face value and thought of all of the art of Japan that was playful,
much with undercurrents of tremendous insight to reflect a counterpoint to the
violent and chaotic times that a great number of these masterpieces were created.
The simplicity and whimsy ran opposite to the age and nature of the times and
the tea ceremony served as a brief
respite from the "real world"; reflection and clarity could be
enhanced by the audacity and humor hidden in the art of the time. Among the
real playful plastic arts of the time was the various works of Oribe-yaki where
many of the design and forms seem nonsensical but upon a deeper examination
there is quite a bit more to be seen and enjoyed in these spirited and
whimsical creations.
Like
a fat, ripe fruit just plucked from a branch, this small Oribe chaire clearly
displays what Oribe is all about. Part of a complete tea set which includes
chawan, mizusashi, chaire, kogo and futaoki, this modern Oribe chaire is by Ishii
Takehiro, an apprentice of the Bizen master Kakurezaki Ryuichi. Reaching into
the origins of Oribe, Ishii has created a chaire that is both spirited while
being somewhat light hearted as not to take itself too seriously. As a singular
element it is engaging and as part of a larger set it has enough presence as to
not get lost in the maddening crowd.
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