茶碗 chawan (tea bowl)

Kuwata Takurō, artist

born 1981

茶碗 chawan (tea bowl), 2017

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: porcelain; glaze; platinum

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 18 x 20.5 x 19 cm
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 7 1/16 x 8 1/16 x 7 1/2 in
Weight (Weight): 5 lbs

Credit line: Museum purchase: R. Charles and Mary Margaret Clevenger Art Acquisition Fund

Accession number: 2018.0008

On display: Lee Study Center

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Form & Flux: Contemporary East Asian Ceramics and Surface Stories

Kuwata Takurō’s radical ceramics are rooted in tradition yet embrace experimentation and chance. His oddly elegant tea bowls—central to his practice—reinterpret classical forms using extreme techniques like ishihaze (stone explosion) and needle-scored glazes. Metallic glazes, including gold and silver, form cracked, blistered surfaces that suggest both opulence and rupture. Joyful yet unsettling, Kuwata’s work reflects the contradictions of contemporary life while honoring centuries-old Japanese ceramic traditions.

Illumination

Kuwata Takurō is a radical potter whose work is grounded in Japanese ceramic traditions despite his bizarre creations. His oddly elegant forms are based on iconic shapes such as the tea bowl. Kuwata states that his goal is to “create joyful and fun works by making the most use of the characteristics of the materials.”

Illumination