Jar 2003

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.