Sake cup (guinomi) c. early 21th century

Uetake Satoshi created this sake cup, or guinomi, with clay. Notice first how the cup's form defies convention. Its walls rise in a truncated, multifaceted geometry, challenging the smooth roundness we typically associate with such vessels. The outer surface bears a coarse, granular texture and is juxtaposed against an orange swirl that seems to mimic organic movement. This interplay between the cup's structured form and the spontaneous design complicates our understanding of functionality. We expect utility, but we're met with artistic expression. This reminds me of structuralist Claude Lévi-Strauss's concept of binary oppositions, a play between nature and culture, chaos and order. Consider how the vessel alters our engagement with it. The cup transcends simple utility to engage us in a dialogue about aesthetics and functionality. It's a dynamic interplay that resists fixed definitions.