Sake cup (guinomi) c. early 21th century

Hori Ichirō made this sake cup, or guinomi, at an unknown date using clay and glaze. What strikes me first about this piece is its surface. It's not smooth or uniform but has this rugged, almost geological quality, like looking at a miniature landscape. The glaze pools and gathers in different areas, creating a topography of textures and hues. I get the sense that the artist is allowing the materials to have a conversation, to push and pull against each other in the firing process. And that’s how I like to think about art making: as a conversation. It’s a back-and-forth between the artist's intentions and the unpredictable nature of the materials. I think of Lucie Rie and her experimental glaze techniques or even the rough and ready ceramics of Peter Voulkos. It’s like art is embracing happy accidents and unexpected outcomes, finding beauty in imperfection.