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Born in
China in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), tenmoku has captivated viewers
for centuries with its shimmering, otherworldly quality. In Japan, a
small handful
of contemporary Japanese potters have heeded the call and devote their
lives to keeping this ancient technique alive. The works of one tenmoku artist, Kamada Koji, shine
particularly bright among them.
The prestigious Takashimaya
Department Store gallery in Osaka was the venue for Mr. Kamada's most
recent exhibition. It was an impressive showing of mostly larger
works. The spacious gallery was lined with stately vases, tsubo
jars and chargers and interspersed with vessels for tea ceremony.
Consistency seems to be the key to
success for this 57-year-old artist. Where many cycle through the
highs and lows of the creative process, along with the pressure to
redefine their work for each major showing, Kamada Koji keeps a strong,
steady tempo. His collections are usually centered around slight
refinements of the already established glazes in his tenmoku repertoire.
This was most apparent in the commanding ginsho tenmoku jar which
served as the centerpiece for the event. Done in two variations of
the lustrous glaze, the surface had a fluid, mercurial character unseen
on previous works.
But that's not to say the Takashimaya exhibition offered no fresh
discoveries. Far from it. Clearly Mr. Kamada is allowing
himself the freedom to experiment with rounder, more sensual forms.
One piece in particular, a
ginsho tenmoku vase, proudly displayed the artist's masterful forming
skill. It was a perfect, radiant sphere.
As the steady rhythm of Kamada Koji's artistry continues to reverberate
among collectors in his native Japan and around the world, a number of
bigger ears have taken note, including New York's Metropolitan Museum of
Art where his work is now on permanent display.
The audience eagerly
awaits the next crescendo from this talented ceramic artist.
We hope you enjoy browsing this
exhibition pictorial. For inquiries about any of the works on
display here, please
contact 2000 Cranes
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Kamada Koji
Exhibition
Announcement
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