A GOOD YEAR

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)