Green Tea Bowl by Bunsai Ogawa

Width: 13.0cm x 13.0cm Height: 9.0cm

Deep Indigo, Embraced by Green - Green Indigo Tea Bowl by Ogawa Bunsai VI (Kyo)

This "Emerald Blue Tea Bowl" by Ogawa Bunsai (Ko) VI is a striking piece, with a soft emerald green glaze on the exterior and a deep indigo hidden within. The exterior of the bowl is bright as if catching the sunlight, with a gentle green flowing through it, exuding a freshness like young leaves swaying in the breeze. However, once you peer inside, the tranquility and depth of the indigo spreads out like the ocean at night, drawing the viewer's heart deeper into its interior - it is as if day and night, the outside and the inside, movement and stillness coexist within a single vessel.

Deep Indigo - The Universe Hidden Within

The indigo glaze on the inside of this tea bowl is not simply blue. Its deep, heavy, yet somehow crystal clear indigo color evokes the still surface of water, a lake reflecting the night sky, or the depths of space. If you pick it up and peer into it, you will feel as if you are being drawn in, as if gazing into the bottomless depths of the ocean.

The subtle nuances that emerge from the varying shades of the glaze capture the light and reveal countless different expressions. Sometimes tinged with hues such as dark blue, sometimes ultramarine, lapis lazuli, or indigo ink, the pieces exude a tranquil atmosphere, inviting you into a moment of introspection during the tea ceremony.

This deep indigo echoes the green of the matcha, bringing out the color of the tea even more vividly. The sight of the brewed tea floating in an indigo space is like a drop of jade inhabiting the universe, creating an extremely poetic experience both visually and spiritually.

The boundary between green and indigo, the fluctuation of consciousness

The green glaze on the outside is the culmination of the "beauty of green" that Bunsai VI has been exploring for many years. The subtle fluctuations and shades created by the flow of the glaze, and the subtle changes caused by the firing process, appear on the surface of the vessel as if reflecting a natural landscape.

The gradation from green on the outside to indigo on the inside goes beyond mere color expression to convey a sense of the "boundary of consciousness." This composition, designed to lead the viewer's gaze from outside to inside, from reality to introspection, is like a "guiding vessel" that invites one to reexamine one's own mind through a cup of tea.

This fusion of aesthetic beauty and spirituality has artistic value that goes beyond mere craftsmanship, and raises new questions about the role of tea bowls in the modern era.

Memories of Fire and Water - Another Face Seen from the Hill

Of particular note are the traces of firing that appear on the base. The indigo glaze flows up to the base, dripping like water, reminiscent of a liquid flickering in the flames, reminding us of the primordial charm of ceramics, the "art of earth." The uneven appearance of the base, unique to handmade pieces, reflects the constant interplay between the glaze and the fire, which changes constantly in the kiln.

The harmony of green and indigo - a symbol of peace and harmony

While carrying on the spirit of the Bunsai kiln that has been passed down through the generations, he continues to create pottery with a strong determination to "make with all his might what he considers beautiful in order to eliminate conflict." The way in which two colors, such as this piece, blend together in one vessel - gentle green and deep indigo - can be said to embody the idea of ​​"harmony."

Green and blue—both colors symbolizing nature—are fused with the power of fire to achieve harmony within a single vessel. This is also an expression of Bunsai Kiln's belief that beauty is born from the coexistence of differences, not conflict.

To grasp the abyss hidden in everyday life

This "Emerald Blue Tea Bowl" is not just beautiful, but also brings a moment of profound depth into the everyday. Take it quietly in your hand, make tea, and let your own image be reflected in the depths of the indigo blue—this experience will surely bring a moment of luxurious introspection to those of us living in the modern age.

In this single bowl, woven with green and indigo, natural scenery, spiritual depth, and a prayer for peace are condensed—this is the true essence of the art of Ogawa Bunsai VI, and the meaning of holding this vessel.

Please enjoy this one-of-a-kind "Emerald Green Tea Bowl" as you experience beauty, tranquility, and the depths of your soul.