Jar c. 2009

This striking Jar was made by Tsujimura Shirō, we’re not sure exactly when, using stoneware. Look closely and you’ll see that the making of this piece really leans into chance. There's the overall form, which is like a slightly squashed sphere, and then the mottled, drippy glaze effects – it’s as if the artist let the materials and the kiln do their own thing. The texture is wonderfully rough and varied. The warm, earthy tones at the base transition into a cooler, speckled top, with drips of green and cream running down like rain. I love the way the glaze pools and gathers, creating these accidental abstract compositions. There's a perfect pale orange circle on one side, it's almost like a deliberate brushstroke. The artist's mark is very present, but it's also like he stepped back and let the fire take over, which is a collaboration of sorts. It reminds me a bit of Lucio Fontana, and his slashed canvases. Both artists embrace a kind of beautiful imperfection, allowing the process to become part of the final artwork. It’s a real conversation between maker and material.