Vase 2000

This vase was made by Shimaoka Tatsuzō; though undated, it’s stoneware, built and carved, fired and glazed. It’s really about the layering of process. The incised lines create a stunning visual texture. They’re not just surface decoration; they reveal the clay beneath, a darker, earthier tone contrasting with the muted green glaze. See how the glaze pools and thins, emphasizing the carved lines? It’s interesting how the diagonals create movement and energy. The vase’s round form becomes almost animated. Those parallel lines feel like drawing, and make me think of Agnes Martin. It's this kind of drawing in three dimensions which I find so captivating. It feels like a conversation between the artist’s hand, the material, and the fire itself. The vase asks us to consider what constitutes drawing. Rather than on paper, drawing can be an act of carving, firing and glazing. These combined gestures become the drawing. Ultimately, this vase is an invitation to think about artmaking as a journey, a conversation with materials, and a celebration of process over product.