THROWN, NOT SCOOPED

From my perspective, Kaneta Masanao has become so synonymous with the kurinuki technique of carving a pot out of a block of clay that I almost forget he comes from a family of traditional Hagi "throwing" potters. As you can see, this Shiro-Hagi chawan was thrown, not scooped and adheres to a more conservative avenue of the Hagi tradition but its wouldn't be Masanao without putting his personal stamp on the form and surface. As mentioned this chawan was thrown on the wheel where it was then slightly altered while wet, pushing slightly oval creating a broader than wider form and once a bit drier he altered the lip creating a nice contrast to the softer curves of the form with simple angles and notches which immediately grab one's attention.       

As for the kodai, it was crisply cut forming a bamboo node style pedestal giving the form quite a bit of lift but perhaps the most noticeable features is the dramatic contrast between the curdled, crawling Hagi glaze and the wettish, iron daido clay body peeking through like canyons or waterways on some distant planet. The ever so slightly off white glaze wraps the form and presents a stark sense of tension almost as if the form is being pulled apart while creating a unified presentation amidst the implied chaos. Kaneta Masanao has managed to create a chawan that straddles the old and new and brings balance to the simple and complex aspects of the bowl which is a perfect addition to the Hagi tradition and just another facet to a noteworthy career in clay.