Cup (yunomi) c. early 21th century

This is a cup by Kawai Tōru, a Japanese ceramicist born in 1941. The twisting cobalt design feels like a dance. You can see the artist’s hand in the way the clay is shaped. It's about the process, that back and forth with the material. Look at how the blue pools in the grooves, almost like water. It's thick and glossy in some spots, thin and translucent in others. That contrast gives it depth. The rim is lighter, like a wave cresting, and inside, there are these little specks, like sediment. It makes you wonder what kind of clay he's using, what minerals are in there, what kind of heat he used. It all matters. The cup reminds me of the work of Lucie Rie. I mean, it's totally different in terms of form, but it has the same respect for the material, the same willingness to let the clay be itself. Art's an ongoing conversation, right? We're all just riffing on each other, trying to figure things out.