Kiln-painted tea bowl by Ogawa Bunsai

Width: 14.0cm x 14.0cm Height: 8.0cm

A mysterious picture scroll painted by flames - Kiln-transformed tea bowl by the 6th Ogawa Bunsai (Kyo)

This bowl, the "Yohen Tea Bowl," was created by the sixth generation Ogawa Bunsai (Oki), and is truly worthy of being called the "art of fire." The accidental changes in glaze that occur during firing - in other words, "yohen" - are particularly difficult to control among the forms of ceramic expression, and are a realm that goes beyond the artist's hands and steps into the realm of natural phenomena. However, Bunsai does not leave this coincidence as a coincidence, but accepts it as an inevitable beauty, and adds deep prayer and constructed beauty to it, elevating it into a one-of-a-kind tea bowl.

The glaze that envelops the entire vessel changes its appearance dramatically depending on the light. Under soft lighting, it appears dark, with shadows resembling ink smudges, while natural light reveals dramatic kiln changes, with black clouds rising from a golden base. A dynamic glaze scene, like a momentary lightning strike or volcanic smoke, is condensed into a palm-sized vessel.

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The expressive power of glazes that create a "landscape of flames"

When talking about this kiln-transformed tea bowl, the biggest attraction is undoubtedly the movement of the glaze. The three-dimensional landscape created by the gradation from yellowish brown to black is a "living expression" that can never be depicted with paint and that appears only at the moment when fire and glaze meet. The glaze melts in the high temperature of the kiln, flows slowly along the surface of the vessel, and hardens again as the firing progresses - this process leaves traces as if the fire itself had held a brush and painted the piece.

Also, if you look closely, you can see subtle hints of blue and purple mixed into the black glaze, creating a mysterious layer that resembles a nebula spreading deep in space. The colors hidden in the kiln transformation are profound and emanate a silent power, like the "myriad colors" hidden within the "absolute color."

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Reliable potter's wheel technique and the dignity of the design

A neat shape is essential to bring out the beauty of the glaze. This piece has an excellent balance between the tension of the body and the curvature of the rim, giving it a very stable appearance. The rim flares outward ever so slightly, creating a quiet "openness" throughout the entire piece. This is the result of delicate manipulation that cannot be achieved by simply making the piece round, and is the product of the "hand memory" of an artist who has been working with the potter's wheel for many years.

In addition, the white base of the foot creates an exquisite contrast with the overall glaze, creating an effect that makes the bottom of the vessel seem to be filled with light. This slight "space" allows the viewer's eyes to travel up and down the vessel, allowing them to more deeply appreciate the flow of the glaze and the three-dimensional effect.

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A hint of kiln change dwelling in the space of the tea room

The quiet power of this kiln-transformed tea bowl is further accentuated during the tea ceremony. For example, the shimmering glaze of this tea bowl, in harmony with the ink traces hanging on the tokonoma alcove or the single flower placed in it, softens yet certainly tightens the atmosphere of the entire space. It is as if a silent conversation is being born, as if something is being said in silence.

In addition, when you actually make matcha, its vibrant green color is seamlessly inserted into the black and tan glaze, creating not only a visual impact but also a sense of depth as a mental landscape. This is truly an experience in which the act of "drinking matcha" itself becomes a scene in an artistic scene.

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The spirit of ceramics that communicates with nature

The sixth generation, Bunsai Ogawa (Oki), is known for his green glaze-based works, but he has also been seriously involved in these kiln-transformed works that are left to the kiln. This is an attitude that is similar to the "beauty of inaction," in that it does not try to control everything by itself, but instead entrusts itself to the power of nature and the movement of the fire.

What lies within this work is a challenge to combine the intellect and creative ability of a contemporary artist with the sensibility that our predecessors called "wabi" and "sabi." It is also a response to the essential question of a ceramic artist: how to elevate the "unknown beauty" created by fire to the realm of fine art using human hands.

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A record of combustion and silence contained in a single bowl

The more you look at these kiln-transformed tea bowls, the more new expressions they reveal. The same bowl will take on a different appearance in the light of the morning, in the silence of the night, or as the seasons change. This is not simply a visual change, but a testament to the growing relationship between the bowl and its user.

Contained within each bowl is the memory of fire, the poetry of earth, and the artist's philosophy of silence. Please take a look. This bowl is not just something to "see" but something to "listen to." In the silence of the viewer, you will surely be able to hear the whispers of the glaze.