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.
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