In
a recent email exchange with the potter Kowari Tetsuya he passed along a group
of photos which included two pieces that were singled out for special
recognition, 2018 was a good year. Illustrated is a large Oribe object that is
a cross between a deconstructivist icon and modern art rendered out of very
traditional technique, clay and glaze with a healthy dose of a particular
imagination. Receiving a "special prize" at the Japan Fine Arts
Exhibition (2018) this wondrous object truly shows what extremes and potential
lay within the Oribe idiom and tradition. Having a unique resemblance to some
science fiction back drop this piece has taken a simple circular object and
stood it on its head, adding dimension, power and motion to such a simple element
of geometry. Beyond the eloquence of the form and evocative texture the
skillful use of the bold, lush Oribe glaze brings a palpable sense of kinetic energy
through its implied motion, animating the piece where the glaze has run
seemingly defying gravity as it is displayed. This innovative contemporary disk
form is further enhanced with variations in the depths of the glaze from light
to dark adding even more dimension to this stellar example of Oribe in the 21st
century.
"You can understand nothing about art, particularly
modern art, if you do not understand that imagination is a value in
itself." Milan Kundera
(Photo
courtesy of the artist, Kowari Tetsuya)
.JPG)