Kettle 2001

Tamura Roppō, born in 1960, made this Kettle, sometime between then and now, and what a thing it is. It's got this rough, textured surface, kinda like stone, or maybe hammered metal, with these sturdy handles and a cool, almost brutalist shape. I can imagine Roppō working on this, really getting into the physicality of the material, figuring out how to balance form and function. You know, how to make something practical but also kinda badass. I mean, look at those tiny square details around the base – they're like little secrets, adding a touch of precision to this otherwise rugged piece. The handle on top looks like it might be tricky to grab, a bold geometrical statement which defies expectations about how a kettle ought to look. It is cool how artists build on what came before, and this piece reminds me of some of the heavy metal work of the 70s and 80s, but with a Japanese twist. It's a conversation across time, with artists riffing off each other's ideas. And for me, that's what art's all about, that ongoing dialogue, embracing the unexpected, and finding new ways to see the world.