Kneaded sake cup by Ogawa Bunsai

Width: 7.0cm x 7.0cm Height: 4.5cm

Drinking in the memories of earth and fire - Nerikomi sake cup by Ogawa Bunsai VI (Kyo)

This "Kerekomi Sake Cup" by Ogawa Bunsai (Oki) VI is a small piece filled with a fundamental power, as if the clay itself is speaking to you. The clay landscape captured in a vessel about the size of a handful goes beyond mere form and gradually stimulates the senses of those who pick it up.

The brown patterns that appear to seep out from under the glaze are the result of the different clays that are kneaded into the piece fusing together during firing, creating a pattern that seems to straddle the line between chance and inevitability. The appearance, reminiscent of the earth of the past, or layers of volcanic ash, vividly conveys the beauty of the "earthly memory" that pottery possesses.

The technique of nerikomi, layered time and texture

"Nerikomi" is a pottery technique that creates patterns by intentionally mixing clays of different colors and qualities. Rather than being painted with a brush or glaze, the patterns emerge from the layers of the clay itself, so the surface scenery is both material and temporal, to the point that it can be described as a "cut-out geological layer."

In this piece, the complex patterns created by kneading the clay are infused into the surface in shades of ochre and brown, and the flow of the glaze and changes in the kiln give it a one-of-a-kind appearance. The traces of handwork become part of the design, and the charm of "born beauty" rather than "manufactured beauty" lives on.

A medley of materials in the palm of your hand

The fact that such rich textures and variations in color can be packed into the limited form of a sake cup is itself a testament to the artist's skill and aesthetic sense. The rim is slightly curved, exuding the warmth and freedom that only a handmade piece can have. The inside of the cup is covered in a deep blue glaze, and when sake is poured into it, the blue reflected on the surface of the liquid and the color of the earth on the outside shimmer like a mirror reflecting a landscape.

Although it is a small vessel that fits in the palm of your hand, when you hold it you can sense a certain "weight" and "heat," which is nothing other than the memory of earth and fire being felt on your skin.

The "use" and "storytelling" of a sake cup

This nerikomi guinomi is not simply a work of art to be admired, but a vessel that is perfected through actual use. When cold or hot sake is poured into the vessel and the warmth of your hand is transferred to the vessel, the surface of the clay changes little by little, revealing expressions that can only be seen by the viewer.

This vessel truly embodies Ogawa Bunsai's values ​​of "craft as dialogue" and "beauty that can be felt through touch," and in the act of drinking from it, the material, time, the artist's thoughts, and the user's sensibilities all blend together.

Beyond the "Green" of Bunsai VI

It is truly symbolic that Ogawa Bunsai VI, who has produced numerous works with the emerald green glaze as the "green man," has returned to the Nerikomi technique, which speaks of the "earth" itself, in this work. This is an attempt to rediscover not only the beauty of the color, but also the power of the material itself, and can be seen as a return to the traditional techniques that have been passed down and to the origins that have emerged within him.

Poetry of the Earth, the Universe in the Palm of Your Hand

A Nerikomi Sake Cup is truly a small universe. The patterns created by the clay continue to develop over time even after they have left the artist's hands, revealing a new landscape every time it is used.

When you hold this vessel in your hands while sharing a drink, a story will be born that goes beyond mere taste. The clay tells a story, the fire seals it, and the glaze illuminates it - please feel this poetic vessel in your palm.

It will be a quiet but sure drink that will fill your memory and your heart.