I don't think that you can get much simpler than this cool
blue chawan by Kimura Yoshiro. The color grades from dark to light as it rises
up the pot, the lines of the form are direct, imbued with confidence and
purpose and the slight wavering of the lip/ mouth breaks up any implied
sterility the chawan may have suggested. At first glance there is a stillness
and coolness to this chawan that would suggest being aloof or indifferent but
to the contrary the calming blue and broken rhythm created by the lip beckon to
the viewer, see me, touch me, use me and in this I see a sense of a well
centered warmth that is far more inviting that the mere descriptive elements
might suggest. I find the subtleties of form and color have been used so
skillfully, a product of lots of work and experience to create such a simple
bowl that has a depth and complexity that many chawan lack despite all of their
attention and details. Kimura Yoshiro has succeeded in making a simple piece
that illustrates just how complex simplicity really can be.
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