Water dropper (suiteki) c. 20th century

Takita Kōichi made this water dropper, or suiteki, out of ceramic. It's all about process, right? You can see where the artist has really worked the material, coaxing it into this smooth, almost egg-like form. I love how tactile this piece is. The surface is so clean and white, yet you can see the subtle texture, the slight imperfections that reveal the hand of the artist. It’s not trying to be perfect, and that’s what makes it so appealing. Notice that tiny spout and the delicate hole on the side; it’s like the whole thing is holding its breath. The light catches on those vertical lines, giving it a gentle rhythm. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin's work, that sense of quiet, meditative repetition. But here, it’s in three dimensions, something you can hold and feel. It’s a conversation between different forms, different artists, different ways of seeing. It’s about the ongoing exchange of ideas, the way art keeps talking to itself across time.