Every now and then
I am reminded of some of the great potters who left us well before they should
have, some were on the brink of greatness and others had clearly show their
genius. Of the pivotal potters on this list, I often think of Bizen master,
Kaneshige Michiaki whose work spans both tradition and contemporary expression
where the manner in which he handled and used clay and his exceptional firing
created objects that set a standard that all potters can strive to. I should
also say that I have been rather fortunate to handle quite a number of
Michiaki's pots over the years including at two shows* of his work in Japan in
the early 1990s, though I must be honest and say they have all be his more
traditional work geared around tea ceremony. I have not handled the chawan in
this screen grab from an early 90s video series on Japanese potters but I can
say this chawan is a classic piece in form and firing that as it rotates in the
video presents a clear picture as to the form, posture and firing of an
intoxicating bowl.
Even in this photo and in fact the video, the
lyrical posture and animated movement of the form is an excellent canvas for
Kaneshige Michiaki's well considered and experienced firings. This chawan just
invites the viewer to participate in its narrative, asking you to come along on
a journey as the potter and clay as storyteller weaves the past and present
into a thoroughly enjoyable ceramic experience; it is quite easy to imagine
this chawan letting you know, "I have a story to tell and it is a doozy".
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