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Dragonfly Incense Burner by Bunsai Ogawa

Dragonfly Incense Burner by Bunsai Ogawa

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Width: 13.0cm x 10.0cm Height: 19.0cm

Dragonfly incense burner - Made by the sixth generation Ogawa Bunsai (Kyo)

The Dragonfly Incense Burner by Ogawa Bunsai VI is a piece full of dynamism and poetry, as if a fleeting summer scene had been captured in the vessel itself. A dragonfly fluttering on the lid has a striking presence amid the simple texture of the rich earthenware body. The delicate yet bold design is a work that can be said to be the culmination of the dragonfly motif that symbolizes Ogawa Bunsai's recent creations.

A sculpture born from an encounter with a dragonfly

In contrast to the "red" tones used by Bunsai V, Bunsai V has made the exploration of "green" the core of his pottery, entrusting his prayers for peace and resonance with nature to his pottery. In the midst of all this, it was a personal "revelation" that led him to fully incorporate the dragonfly motif.

One summer day, while Ogawa Bunsai was working in his garden, a dragonfly suddenly appeared in front of him, landed on his finger, and stared at him. At that moment, he said he sensed the voice of his late father, Godai Bunsai, telling him, "Use it without hesitation." After this incident, Bunsai began to actively incorporate dragonflies into his works, leading to the creation of this piece, which combines playfulness and spirituality.

Sculptural beauty between motion and stillness

The greatest appeal of this piece is the contrast between motion and stillness created by depicting a dragonfly, a flying creature, on a quiet vessel like an incense burner. Moreover, the dragonfly's wings are boldly decorated with a lattice pattern, which not only creates a visual impact but also demonstrates the high level of shaping ability as a work of art. The glaze on the body is kept subtle to show off the base material, and the surface is rough enough to feel the particles of the soil, and the intricate dragonfly on the lid creates a complex beauty that combines nature and man-made, stillness and motion, simplicity and splendor.

Additionally, the legs are designed to resemble three wheels, and while they are somewhat humorous, they also serve as a structural element that enhances the stability of the vessel, making the design more practical than it looks.

Function and presentation of incense burner

A kousa (incense burner), a vessel for burning incense, can also be called a "vessel for designing space" due to its function. In this piece, the incense rises from the small holes in the lid, and the flapping of the dragonfly's wings overlaps with the incense smoke, creating the illusion of a dragonfly actually flying in the wind. The scent wafts along with memories of summer, natural scenery, and the potter's thoughts.

If placed in a Japanese-style room, it will bring a refreshing breeze to the tokonoma alcove, and even in a modern space, it will become a kind of "conversational object" that will draw the viewer's attention and emotions.


The history of Bunsai Kiln and the journey of the sixth Bunsai

The first Ogawa Bunsai (Bunsuke) learned kiln-building techniques in Kyushu, and founded the company in 1847 in Kaseyama, receiving the character "sai" and family crest from the Ichijo family. In 1873, he built a kiln in Gojozaka, Kyoto, and since then, six generations have passed and the fires of pottery have been burning in Kyoto for over 150 years.

The current head of the family, the sixth generation, Ogawa Bunsai (Oki), studied sculpture at graduate school, then went on to study ceramics at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Technical College, and is a talented artist who has won numerous awards at the Nitten Exhibition and other exhibitions. In addition to the traditions of Kyoto ware passed down from generation to generation, he has pioneered new areas of expression by actively fusing a sculptural approach with a modern sense of form.

"While praying for peace, I will do my best to create artwork that I believe to be beautiful." Based on this belief, the Dragonfly Incense Burner strongly embodies the wish for a world without conflict through the use of the color green.


A vessel of memory and rebirth brought about by a single dragonfly.
This is a memorable piece in which the spirit of the 6th Bunsai quietly soars.
Please receive these feelings along with the fragrance.

The 6th generation head of Bunsai Kiln, Ogawa Bunsai (Kou)
Ceramic artist, Nitten member, Kyoto Craft Artists Association member

Activity experience
・Culture center lecturer (Mainichi, NHK, Kyoto) for 20 years
・Open burning (with Bunsai Godai)
・Formation and participation of limited liability business partnership

Ceramic history
Born in 1974 as the eldest son of Ogawa Bunsai 5, a ceramic artist from Gojozaka, Kyoto.
1999 Graduated from Kyoto University of Art and Design, Faculty of Arts, Sculpture Course
2000 Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural Pottery Technical College Molding Course / Selected for Kyoto Exhibition / Selected for All Kansai Art Exhibition
2001 Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural Ceramic Technical College / Selected for Kyoto Exhibition / Joined the Kyoto Crafts and Artists Association
2002 Group exhibition "5-person exhibition" / Graduated from the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute Ceramics Research Laboratory / Kyoto Exhibition Kusube Award / First time selected for the 34th Nitten Exhibition
2003 Selected for the Kyoto Exhibition / Received the Japan New Crafts Encouragement Award at the 25th Japan New Crafts Exhibition / Joined the Japan New Craftsmen Association Kinki Chapter / Selected for the All Kansai Art Exhibition / Selected for the 35th Nitten Exhibition
2004 Selected for the Kyoto Exhibition / Selected for the 26th Japan New Crafts Exhibition / Won the Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka Headquarters Award at the Japan New Crafts Exhibition Kinki Exhibition / Selected for the 36th Nitten Exhibition
2005 27th Japan New Crafts Exhibition, Tokyo Governor's Award / First solo exhibition (Kyoto Daimaru Department Store Art Salon) / Selected for the 37th Nitten Exhibition
2006 Selected for the 28th Japan New Crafts Exhibition / Yomiuri Television Award at the Japan New Crafts Exhibition Kinki Exhibition / Selected for the All Kansai Art Exhibition / Solo Exhibition (Takashimaya Kyoto Store Art and Craft Salon) / Selected for the 38th Nitten Exhibition
2007 Selected for the Kyoto Exhibition / Selected for the 29th Japan New Crafts Exhibition / Selected for the 39th Nitten Exhibition / Submitted to the Kyoto Women's University Elementary School 50th Anniversary Ceramic Exhibition
2008 Selected for the Kyoto Exhibition / Selected for the 30th Japan New Crafts Exhibition / USE Uryuyama.Sculptors.Exhibition (Gallery Maronnier)
2009 Group exhibition "Mashu Exhibition: Winter Gathering" / Became a member of the Japan New Craftsmen's Association / Exhibited at the 31st Japan New Crafts Exhibition / Kyoto Crafts Artists Association Exhibition Association Encouragement Award / Japan New Crafts Exhibition Kinki Exhibition Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka Head Office Award / Selected for the 41st Nitten Exhibition / Solo exhibition (Kyoto Daimaru Department Store Art Salon) / USE Exhibition 2009 (Gallery Maronnier)
2010: Exhibited at the 32nd Japan New Crafts Exhibition / Selected for the 42nd Nitten Exhibition
2011 Exhibited at the 8th special exhibition "Graduates of the Affiliated Elementary School - Ceramic Artists Exhibition" commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto Women's University / Exhibited at the 33rd Japan New Crafts Exhibition / Won the Yomiuri TV Award at the All Kansai Art Exhibition / Exhibited at "Kyoto Pottery Seeking New Horizons: The 50-Year Journey of Kiyomizu-yaki Danchi" / USE 4 (Gallery Maronnier) / Exhibited at the 65th Anniversary Kyoto Crafts and Artists Association Exhibition / Solo Exhibition (Kyoto Daimaru Department Store Art Gallery)
2012: Judge for the 34th Japan New Crafts Exhibition / Kyoto City Superintendent of Education Award for the Japan New Crafts Exhibition Kinki Exhibition / USE 5 (Gallery Maronnier)
2013: Becomes the sixth generation master of Bunsai Kiln, Kyoyaki.
Exhibited at the 35th Japan New Crafts Exhibition / USE 6 (Gallery Maronnier) / Selected for the 44th Nitten Exhibition
2014 USE 7 (Gallery Maronnier) / Withdrew from the Japan New Craftsmen Association
2015 Rinpa 400th Anniversary Exhibition of Japanese Paintings and Crafts by 200 Contemporary Artists (Kyoto Museum) / Heisei Kyo-machiya x Heisei Craftsmen / USE 8 (Gallery Maronnier)
2016 Kyoto Rokuhara District "Let's all wear the logi sign" project nameplate creation / Japanese painting, photography, and kirikane coming together in pottery Four-person collaboration exhibition (Porta Gallery Hana)
2017 Solo Exhibition Daimaru Kyoto Art Gallery / USE 10 (Gallery Maronnier)
2018 Kissako - First, have a cup of tea - Takumi (Porta Gallery Hana)
Climbing kiln damaged
2019 Climbing kiln restoration completed
Kyoto Exhibition: Small Universe (Porta Gallery Hana)
Celebration of the name succession ceremony for the 6th Ogawa Bunsai
2020 Kyoto Exhibition: Small Universe (Porta Gallery Hana) / Kyoto Crafts and Arts Artists Association Selection Exhibition
2021 75th Anniversary Kyoto Crafts Artists Association Exhibition / Solo Exhibition Daimaru Kyoto Art Gallery
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