NOT JUST ANOTHER BOWL

I saw this very well wood fired chawan the other day and was immediately struck by its posture, form, surface and incised decoration, it is one of those pieces that you have an instant connection to, a dialogue which just feels right and is obviously not just another bowl. The teabowl was made by legendary Tokoname sculpture and potter, Koie Ryoji and bares his signature across the surface as a bold, lyrical design across the ash coated surface. Few potters have been as imaginative, bold and even provocative as Koie through out his long career from his Chernobyl series of sculpture to his thought provoking pottery which pushes the concept of function, tradition and accommodation. I like this chawan as much because it has a comfortable attitude with a simple form and decoration as it is the embodiment of the casual which like his contemporary, Suzuki Goro, Koie spins out such pieces with seemingly effortless and boundless energy.