White Glazed Shinogi Flower Vase by Okada Yu

Width: 12.0cm Height: 20.0cm

White glaze Shinogimon flower vase (Hakuyu Shinogimon Hanare) by Okada Masaru - "A single-flower vase with a quiet melody, capturing the swell of the spring breeze in the curves of light snow."

Overview of the work

This elegant vase features a spiraling shinogi pattern that softly emerges from the slightly milky white glaze. The flowing lines that envelop the perfectly round body maintain a sense of speed, as if they are mirroring the wind that blows along the foothills of Sumiyama in Uji, and the flowing cylindrical shape that continues to the neck tightens the flower's shape. Combined with its subdued luster, the shadows shift depending on the light, creating a vessel that brings a refreshing atmosphere to the table or alcove where it is placed.

Historical and modern

Shinogi patterning is a technique that is connected to Goryeo celadon from the Korean peninsula and Karatsu ware from the Edo period, but Okada Masaru has achieved a soft spiral without sharp edges by "smoothing" the shinogi rather than "carving" it. He has combined the purity of the wabi (traditional Japanese style) of the white glaze with the modern design of a melodic form, elevating it to a form that resonates between the classic and the contemporary.

Message from the artist

Okada Masaru's creative philosophy, "Let the wind blow gently inside and outside the vessel," is embodied in the spiral design of this vase. Running your finger over the valleys leaves a faint sense of the softness of the clay, while the ridges evoke the traces of the wind caressing the mountainside. The tranquility of the white glaze accentuates the colors of the flowers, while the vessel itself adds a subtle movement to the space as a "sculpted wind."

Conclusion

With its white glaze reminiscent of light snow and the tranquil beauty of its curves created by the spiraling shinogi pattern, this white glaze shinogi pattern vase reflects a new landscape every time it receives flowers. Please enjoy using it for a long time, along with seasonal flowers, as the luster of the white glaze deepens and the shadows of the shinogi pattern take on even more shade.