Jar c. 1976

This jar was made by Yasuda Zenkō, but when exactly I couldn’t say. What interests me is how these horizontal bands of colour – off-white, light brown – were applied. It feels like a layering process, the artist building the jar in stages. The surface of the jar is wonderfully textured, like tree bark or maybe the surface of a far-off planet. The paint isn’t thick, but there are many layers, creating depth. Look closely, and you’ll see tiny variations in colour and tone. These imperfections are what make it feel handmade, human. Notice how the bands aren’t perfectly straight? They waver and wobble, like water. The whole jar has a kind of softness. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grid paintings, the way she used subtle colour variations to create a sense of calm and quiet. And just as with Martin, this jar invites you to slow down, to contemplate the beauty of imperfection. It’s a reminder that art is always an ongoing conversation, a process of exchange and discovery.