Shino-style tea bowl 2000

Editor: This Shino-style tea bowl, crafted in 2000 by Tsujimura Shiro, now resides at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I’m really drawn to the texture and the unpredictable glaze. It almost looks like a landscape. What story do you think this artwork is telling? Curator: The "story" of this bowl resonates through layers of cultural memory. Notice the wabi-sabi aesthetic: imperfection, roughness. These are not flaws, but intentional evocations. This "flawed" nature embodies Zen ideals. How might a tea ceremony using this bowl affect one’s mental state, considering these symbols? Editor: So the textures and color variations aren't just aesthetic, they’re meant to connect with deeper spiritual ideas? Like a way to meditate while holding it? Curator: Precisely. Think about Shino ware's historical context, arising in the Momoyama period in Japan. A time of powerful warriors and flourishing tea culture. The rough stoneware references humbleness and rustic beauty; contrasting society values, yet finding common ground through symbolic gestures like sharing tea. The kiln's uncontrolled impact adds layers of meaning to the piece. Does that resonate with your reading of the “landscape” impression you mentioned? Editor: Absolutely. It gives the sense of raw natural processes at work, even chaos maybe? I guess that’s what makes it beautiful: the uncontrolled element. Curator: Indeed, reflecting not just external landscapes but our inner landscapes too: impermanence, acceptance. Every imperfection holds layers that spark profound considerations of beauty beyond perfection. Editor: I see now it embodies history, philosophy and the beauty of embracing chance events through pottery making! Curator: Exactly. An everyday object, raised to something sublime through symbolism.