Plate with inlaid akae flower pattern c. 1990s

This is a plate with inlaid akae flower pattern made by Shimaoka Tatsuzō, and its home is here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The textures remind me of fabrics, like woven cloth, and invite a haptic exploration that’s at odds with the untouchable nature of museum objects. The clay's surface is like a canvas alive with subtle variations; the central blue area, with its rhythmic striations, contrasts sharply with the herringbone pattern that dominates the plate's edge. Then there are the inlaid flowers, with their expressive lines, full of gestural energy. It's as if this plate captures the spirit of folk traditions, the love of materials and a deep connection to process. It makes me think about potters like Lucie Rie, who brought a modernist sensibility to ceramics, proving that art could be both functional and beautiful. Art, after all, is a conversation.