Dimensions: 15 x 16 x 16 in. (38.1 x 40.64 x 40.64 cm)
Copyright: No Known Copyright
This Jar was made at an unknown date by Tsujimura Shirō using clay. I see a spectrum of browns, creams, and earthen hues, like a landscape in flux. The piece has a raw, almost primal feel, doesn't it? It's not trying to be perfect. I love how the glaze dribbles down the sides. You can feel the heat and gravity at play, the way the artist let the material have its say. The surface has a kind of wonderful, gritty texture, almost like the skin of something alive. And where the glaze pools at the bottom, it's like a tide line, marking the ebb and flow of the firing process. It's as if Shirō is saying, "Here, I've done my part, now it's up to the kiln." You know, this reminds me a bit of Lucio Fontana's ceramics, that same willingness to let the material lead the way. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is an ongoing experiment, a conversation between the artist and the elements.
Tsujimura Shiro first became interested in pottery while studying to be a painter in Tokyo. He rejected the notion of apprenticing with an established master or attending art school, and instead launched out on his own. After sequestering himself in a Zen temple, he began to teach himself about clay, ultimately building his own studio and several kilns in Nara. For this vessel, he used the feldspathic clay typical of the Shigaraki area and fired it in a wood-burning kiln, which resulted in the dramatic rivulets of natural ash glaze that decorate its surface.
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.