Magic of the Tea Bowl: Volume 3

Magic of the Tea Bowl Volume III

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 8–July 13

New York – Ippodo Gallery is pleased to present Magic of the Tea Bowl Volume III, a showcase of eighteen selected contemporary ceramic artists representing a variety of styles from classical and traditional to modern—emerging visionaries, rising stars, respected masters, and a Living National Treasure—on view from June 8–July 13.

“Way of Tea” began in Japan during the sixteenth century with the famed Sen no Rikyu, who initiated an aesthetic movement that has become a treasured facet of Japanese life: sadōor chadō. This “way of tea” has been a source of cultural enrichment, a philosophy of ichigo ichie “cherish every moment, for it may never return,” which is the fundamental basis of a Japanese sensibility. There is no other form of art than the tea bowl (chawan) that possesses such a close, physical sensitivity or arouses such a rich emotion and intimacy.

Japanese artists have ingeniously sought out the perfect chawan form for more than four centuries. This precious history has become integrated at a regional degree; Bizen is one such example of Japan’s “six great kilns,” with rules and procedures that have passed from generation to generation of practitioners (Jun and Koichiro Isezaki, Hiroshi Goseki). Yet, the modern era brings new developments in machinery including the electric kiln, as well as modern works of original character, exemplified by artists such as Yukiya Izumita in Japan’s northeast Tohoku region or Kodai Ujiie in the southern-central Chūbu–Tōkai region.

Tea bowls are a key that activates the five senses with tactile effect. Gradually, each artwork unveils its charm with use and appreciation, be that by participating in chadō or as a visual art form. An alluring microcosm of patterns and shapes unfolds as one witnesses the poignant power of each artist’s mastery. Hence, tea bowls operate to form relationships, linking together two souls—host and guest—who may never meet face to face. For fifteen years, Ippodo Gallery has emphasized the benevolent spirit of chadō: tea bowls welcome you to embrace sensibilities of meditation, contemplation, and peace despite life’s tribulations.

Tea Bowl: An Art of Five Senses