Cup (yunomi) c. early 21th century

This ‘Cup (yunomi)’ was made by Yamada Kazu, who was born in 1954. The way this cup is shaped and glazed, feels like an embrace of chance. The colour palette is restrained, and that makes me think about how just a few marks, when done with intention, can be so strong. The texture of this cup is really interesting - it’s not smooth, but it’s not rough either. There’s a real physicality to the medium here. The glaze is thin in some places, pooling in others, and the dark brown streaks look like they’ve been allowed to run down the side of the cup in a totally natural way. I’m drawn to the way the bottom of the cup is slightly wider than the top, giving it a sense of groundedness. I'm reminded of the quiet intensity of Agnes Martin's grids, or perhaps a Cy Twombly painting, because this artist has understood that art is an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time. Ultimately, what I love about this cup is its ambiguity. It’s functional, but it’s also beautiful, and it invites us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to it.