Sake cup (guinomi) after 1980

Curator: A petite, beautiful object greets us: a Japanese sake cup or guinomi, by Kawai Tōru, made sometime after 1980. You'll find it here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Well, it immediately strikes me with its dynamic form, a surprising angularity for such a traditionally ceramic vessel. Curator: The ceramic construction definitely reveals itself to be significant—traditionally speaking, ceramic is more than just material in Japanese culture. It’s the medium by which so many memories, histories, and experiences have come to be understood through ritual. Editor: Absolutely, the spiraling geometric pattern applied to the body of this cup offers a rich textural contrast to its smooth glazed interior. Curator: Precisely! The contrasting colors speak of something too. Look closely and we notice that there is an almost turbulent blue on the exterior and a cool, placid white glaze on the interior. Symbolically speaking, we could infer that it is intended for clarity to exist at the site of consumption. Editor: Very compelling! In terms of formal structure, that contrasting choice really highlights the cup’s function. One could argue the texture, and in this case the geometrical spirals of the exterior, invite touch, engaging more than one sense in the drinking experience. Curator: It's more than an invitation, I would argue it’s also a deeply coded action. The very spirals mimic a traditional action of meditative practice; a winding towards center, or enlightenment if you will. It subtly directs the user toward that act when engaged with the cup. Editor: It all adds up to an incredibly refined example of functional art. Its deceptively simple form invites rigorous investigation into layers of form, materiality, and potential interpretations. Curator: Agreed. This particular cup shows that an object can contain a world. And worlds are more potent when distilled to small acts. Editor: Indeed. What at first seemed like a humble vessel holds layers of meaning and beauty.