Illustrated is a truly wonderful and
inspirational Okinawan style chawan by Hamada Shoji. White slip over stoneware
with a clear glaze and iron lip accented by the two color enamel decoration of
Hamada's sugarcane design makes this bowl come alive and jump out of the photo.
A delicate balance of humility, folk craft and intellect this chawan is decorated
in a vivid green and red enamel, the brushwork appears fluid, effortless and
immediate. These are all of trademark characteristics of a master in full
command of a technique that is as much muscle memory as it is unconscious
action, capturing the spontaneity born from a life time dedicated and immersed
in pottery and craft. There is very little that can be said about Hamada Shoji,
his pottery and his unique decoration that has not been said before but I will
only add this play on the mingei axiom, "beauty born of use" to say;
this is beauty born of doing.
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