What
a wondrous thing that glazes can be, whether they are naturally occurring or
composed like some alchemists symphony, the possibility and effects are
endless. When I really think about glazes is that they have the distinct possibility
to present defined galaxies within their surfaces painting ominous and somber
realms to those of great visual intensity as if a sun has gone supernova within
them. Though there are a great number of stellar pots that bare no glaze and
submit to the viewer as naked form, there are an equal number that are only
completed with the addition of glaze and decoration adding depth and profundity
to the canvas that is clay. Illustrated is a close up of a rich and evocative
kannyu style seiji glaze that almost radiates the cold like the fractured ice
that it seemingly imitates. I find these cracked and fractured surfaces to be
mysterious and compelling leading me along in a narrative that the potter, clay
and glazes has created. In this case, this detail shot is of a tall and elegant
bottle-vase made by Minegishi Seiko only a few years ago of tapering form with
lobes running vertically accentuating the stature of the piece and the glaze
which descends into the depression; a perfect meld of the Chinese archetype and
the Japanese interpretation. More images to follow.
A
while back I wrote a blog post entitled; GONE YESTERDAY, HERE TODAY, which
chronicled (!) the sheer coincidence in making two posts about two very
different pots and in a rather short period of time we were able to collect one
exceptionally similar pot and in the other case, the exact pot we wrote about.
I put together this short video slideshow to try to give a fuller depth and
dimension to the piece because in hand it is just wonderful. The glaze surface
is cool and smooth while the heavily crazed surface adds a sense of intensity,
warmth and conflict to the bowl while the iron and underglaze redflower adds the tranquil element which both
ties in the opposing elements and draws the eye in to the rather harmonious whole.
Enjoy the slideshow and thoughts and comments are always welcome.
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