Untitled [Incense burner decorated with kingfishers] 2006

This untitled incense burner decorated with kingfishers was made by Takegoshi Jun. The artist delicately painted this square porcelain form with soft yellows, reds, and blues. You can almost see the artist’s hand moving around the object, shifting the composition, trying different angles and pressures on the brush. I can imagine the artist thinking about a Japanese screen painting or a ukiyo-e print while working on this. The crispness of the white porcelain contrasts with the softness of the plant’s thin stalks and the bird’s feathery bodies. I think the angular branches give an impression of the four seasons. And those birds, are they hunting, resting, or gazing out? Each brushstroke is so intentional, like each element in the natural world has its own purpose, and all are interdependent. It reminds me of how we artists respond to the world around us, influenced by our history and experiences.