Blue and white porcelain silver-colored pottery Kazuhiro Matsukawa

Blue and white porcelain silver-glazed ceramic box by Kazuhiro Matsukawa (W8.2 x D8.2 x H8.2cm)
-- "The serenity of water and the presence of silver. A layer of light is contained within the cube."

I. The ceramic box as a vessel: Beauty born from storing things

A ceramic box is not only a box for storing something, but also a sculpture that is complete the moment the lid is closed . The act of opening and closing transforms the vessel from a simple object into a "tool," and also creates a "presence."
This piece is a neat cube that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and can be used as an incense holder, a small sweets dish, a tea ceremony accessory case, or even a box for jewelry or seals, quietly bridging the boundary between the ordinary and the extraordinary.

II. The color of pale blue porcelain: clearer than "white" and softer than blue

One large side of the piece is made of pale blue porcelain . While maintaining the cleanliness of white porcelain at its core, a subtle blue hue emerges softly when light hits it, and returns to a milky white in the shade.
This fluctuation is the most beautiful expression of pale blue porcelain. It is hard yet not too cold, and breathable within its stillness - here we see the clear "emptiness" that is characteristic of Matsukawa's pale blue porcelain.

III. Silver-painted Masks: The Moment Metal Becomes a Story

In contrast, the silver glaze that covers the other side has a white flow running across a gray-silver background, with tiny scattered dots (like traces of bubbles) appearing.
At first glance, it appears to be a metal plate, but the closer you get, the more you can see the flow, bleeding, and accumulation of glaze.The poetic quality of this work lies in the fact that the metallic luster is not "evenly smoothed" but rather left to fluctuate, creating a landscape .

Depending on the angle of the light, Ginsai can glow white or sink into a dull leaden color. In other words, the surface is not a fixed color, but a film of light whose appearance changes depending on the viewer's position and the time of day.

IV. The Art of Composition: Two Worlds Connected by a Single Line

This piece clearly switches between the two qualities of "blue-and-white porcelain" and "silver glaze." However, rather than a strong contrast, the eye is naturally drawn to the joint.
This is because the thin line (outlined in a warm orange-gold) that runs around the border between the lid and the body tightens the whole piece and at the same time gives it a sense of "quality as a work of art." Despite its straight lines, it does not appear stiff, but rather is as soft as breathing.
The tension inherent in the geometry of the cube is nicely alleviated by the soft light of the blue-and-white porcelain, the shimmering texture of the silver glaze, and the warmth of the fine wire.

V. Inner silence: The “space to contain” is also a landscape

Opening the lid reveals the purity of the blue-and-white porcelain on the inside. If the exterior represents a contrast between light and scenery, the inside is a quiet space that speaks volumes .
This "temperature difference between the inside and outside" gives the ceramic box its unique elegance. The outside is a view, the inside is empty. That's why, whether you store incense, sweets, or small, precious items, the atmosphere remains unclouded, but rather refined.

VI. Suggested uses: for the living room, study, and everyday life

As an incense holder : The silver-colored surface resonates with the "invisible presence" of incense, while the pale blue porcelain surface purifies the air.

Can be used to store small sweets such as dried sweets and sugar candy : the blue-and-white porcelain interior elegantly reflects the colors of the sweets.

Use it to store small items such as seals, keys, and rings : when the lid is closed, it becomes a decorative element in the space.

As a gift container : The luxury of having the box itself remain even after the contents are gone.

VII Conclusion - Water and silver, two layers of tranquility

The pale blue porcelain is as clear as water, and the silver glaze shifts like light.
This "Blue and White Porcelain Silver-Decorated Ceramic Box" encapsulates these two elements within a cube, connecting them with a single line, and even the act of closing the lid is endowed with beauty.

Although it is a small cube, it exudes a density of tranquility . When placed, it brings order to the space, and when picked up, the changing light slowly unfolds around you. This piece is a condensed version of Kazuhiro Matsukawa's "clear form" and "glaze that creates a landscape."

Biography

1977 Born in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture
1998 Graduated from Nara College of Arts, Ceramic Art Course
2000 Graduated from Nara College of Arts
2001 Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural Pottery Technical College and studied under Takahiro Kondo
2006 Independent and opened a kiln in Kawachinagano City

Major solo exhibitions and exhibitions

2007 Kyoto Prefecture Fine Arts and Crafts New Artists Selection Exhibition (Kyoto Museum)
Two-person exhibition (Matsuzakaya Nagoya Art Gallery/Nagoya)
Solo exhibition (Kyoto Takashimaya Art and Craft Salon/Kyoto)
2008 Solo Exhibition (Campanule/Chiba)
Solo exhibition (Paramita Museum Small Gallery/Mie)
2009 Solo Exhibition (Gallery Espace/Nagoya)
2010 Solo Exhibition (Sapporo Mitsukoshi Art Gallery/Hokkaido)
Solo exhibition (Matsuzakaya Nagoya Art Gallery/Nagoya)
Solo exhibition (Alpark Tenmaya Art Gallery/Hiroshima)
2011 Solo Exhibition (Ceramics Gallery Furyo/Osaka) ('07)
2012 Solo Exhibition (Gallery Okumura/Tokyo) ('07 '09)
2013 Solo Exhibition (Lovely Hall 20th Anniversary Event/Osaka)
2014 Solo Exhibition (Tenmaya Hiroshima Hatchobori Art Gallery/Hiroshima) ('11)
2016 Solo Exhibition (Tenmaya Fukuyama Art Gallery/Hiroshima) ('08 '12)
Three-person exhibition (Hakata Hankyu Muse/Fukuoka)
2017 Solo Exhibition (Pinacotheca / Tokyo) ('14 '15)
Solo exhibition (Tenmaya Okayama Art Gallery/Okayama) ('08)
Solo exhibition (Atelier Hiro/Osaka)
2018 Solo Exhibition (Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Art Gallery/Tokyo)
Solo exhibition (Takashimaya Osaka Gallery NEXT/Osaka) ('08 '11 '15)
2020 Solo Exhibition (Hana Asagi/Tokyo)
2021 Solo Exhibition (Gallery Tachibana/Nara) ('15 '17 '19)
2022 Two-person exhibition (Hana Asagi/Tokyo)
2023 Two-person exhibition (Atelier Hiro/Osaka)
2025 Two-person exhibition (Hana Asagi/Tokyo)
Solo exhibition (Midorigaoka Museum of Art/Nara)

Awards

36th Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition (Osaka Prefecture Board of Education Award)
55th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Japan Crafts Association President's Award)

Public Collection

Midorigaoka Museum of Art