OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Illustrated is an interior shot of a recent kohiki mizusashi that came my way. Well known for his kohiki ware and ash glazed pots, this piece was made by Kimura Morinobu and symbolizes the quiet and simple works that he has crafted over a many decades of making pots on the outskirts of Kyoto. While created as a practical and purposeful vessel for use in chanoyu, tea ceremony Kimura added some aesthetically pleasing touches that add to the serene and somber kohiki surface from areas of iron ringing the base of the pot to a rather stylized "bird" knob gracing the handle which has a rather archaic appearance. Perhaps the most surprising touch that was unexpected is the yuteki style glazed interior that radiates as soon as the lid is removed, creating a sense of movement within the interior of this otherwise simple pot. While the exterior has a rather quiet appearance, the interior is the opposite having a rather potent and robust presence that as I mentioned was not totally expected but works in harmony with the mizusashi overall. Like the way that black and white work together, as opposites in harmony, I think the balance of kohiki and temmoku are a perfect combination where opposites attract, especially the eye.