Water Container c. 20th century

Ueda Naokata V fashioned this water container out of clay, a substance rooted deep in the earth. Observe how the horizontal lines ripple around the vessel's body, evocative of water currents or the rings of a tree, both symbols of life's continuous flow. The handle itself is architectonic, calling to mind the arches found in both ancient Roman aqueducts and Shinto temple gates. This arch, a universal symbol of passage and transition, has been used across cultures, and its presence here suggests a journey or cycle. Think of how it appears in triumphal arches or even rainbows, each suggesting a bridge between worlds. The vessel, as a container, represents not just water but also potential, a womb-like space where ideas and life gestate. This embodies the psychological undercurrent of the piece, the human need to hold and nurture, to contain the chaos of the world. The symbols here are not static; they morph and resurface through time, echoing in our collective memory. Each viewer brings their own experiences, enriching and evolving the life of this deceptively simple form.