KOSAKU KANECHIKA is pleased to present Takuro Kuwata’s solo exhibition TEE BOWL, from 17 July to 21 August 2021.
Takuro Kuwata has captivated a global audience through solo exhibitions throughout the world in major cities such as Tokyo, New York, London, and Brussels. Adorned with vivid hues and metallic glazes, his unforgettable works are very distinctive while still incorporating traditional Japanese ceramic techniques such as kairagi and ishihaze. Though deeply rooted in ceramic tradition, Kuwata’s novel visual language retains a critical eye, broadening his artistic horizons through intensive dialogue with material and a contemporary perspective. It is precisely for these reasons that Kuwata’s works are celebrated on an international level, and also serve as an influential source of inspiration for creators in various artistic fields.
Kuwata’s practice in recent years can be categorised into two different types of process. One involves a routine in which the same process is repeated to the point that it becomes effortless and second nature, and spontaneously triggers something new. The other type of process is a more conceptually based attempt in which Kuwata actively endeavours to discover something new by trying a variety of different methods, even if they are likely to end in failure.
Historically speaking, new frontiers have been opened up and intellectual sophistication improved through intensive pursuit of artistic techniques, as happened when painting evolved from portraiture to abstraction and ceramic art evolved from the tea bowl to sculpture. The same can be said for Kuwata’s creative process, in which he masters ceramic techniques through thorough investigation. His experiments, which sometimes even negate previous developments, make possible new growth. Kuwata seeks to expose his audience to this newfound territory, using his work as the medium of communication.
Today, with all of society seemingly at the point of exhaustion, Kuwata’s unwavering creativity is a stimulating source of energy for viewers. This exhibition introduces 18 new works, including sculptures derived from the tea bowl, presenting each work so as to give viewers a sense of the creative process used in its production.
Takuro Kuwataʼs unique and unparalleled works expand the boundaries of ceramic art. His visual language, a contemporary take on traditional Japanese ceramic techniques such as kairagi and ishihaze, has garnered international acclaim. Kuwata’s studio is situated at the heart of Japanese ceramic artistry in the Mino region of Gifu Prefecture, which retains techniques dating back to feudal Japan. Inheriting the traditional tea-ceremony aesthetic of wabi-sabi, his creations celebrate imperfect beauty and natural forms in the preservation of a rustic, unrefined elegance. Through dialogue with environment, history, nature, and time, Kuwata fuses together tradition and modernity, bringing into existence provocative works of art.
Founded in March 2017 by director, Kosaku Kanechika, KOSAKU KANECHIKA is a contemporary art gallery in Tokyo, Japan, that belongs to a new generation of venues re-defining the local contemporary art landscape. The gallery showcases Japanese artists who are renowned domestically and on an international scale, representing Yutaka Aoki, Junko Oki, Takuro Kuwata, Ataru Sato, Chikashi Suzuki, Noritaka Tatehana, and fumiko imano. The gallery also hosts exhibitions featuring overseas artists such as Dan McCarthy and Ruby Neri, introducing artists that engage in novel expressions transcending both medium and genre.
