Japanese artist Takuro Kuwata opened a show last week at Salon 94 featuring the familiar colorful clay and juicy dotted glaze we can’t get enough of. The artist graduated from Kyoto Saga Art College, with a degree in Ceramics Arts in 2001 and is now based in Toki City, Gifu, Japan. The contemporary ceramic art exhibition titled Dear Tea Bowl (September 09, 2015–October 24, 2015) is Kuwata’s second solo exhibition at Salon 94 and a new, experimental vein has surfaced in this series.
Above Image: Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Kaleidoscope Magazine points out that “while not explicitly engaged with national issues of destruction, [the work] provides an aesthetic correlation to Japan’s recent natural and social disasters.” This implicit destruction paired with the bright colors that Japan pop culture is bathed in give an unexpected snapshot of the country. Additionally, much of this content is built on and within the context of the tea bowl, an object deeply rooted in Japanese history.
Kuwata’s pop sculpture has much in common with American ceramist Ron Nagle, the bright palette, contained compositions, and use of creeping viscous liquid, but some of this new work looks even more directly inspired by him. We can see Nagle’s influence particularly clearly in the dense red goo seeping from an unknown place and the micro-series using similar forms with varying colors. Kuwata is the phenomenological counterpart to the ultra-controlled Nagle and it’s a treat to have them simultaneously exhibiting in New York, just a short tube ride away from each other.
Justin Crowe is a Writer and Director of Operations at CFile.
What do you think about this bright, sensual contemporary ceramic art? Tell us in the comment box below!
All Images: Takuro Kuwata, Dear Tea Bowl Exhibition, Images: Courtesy of Solon 94
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Takuro Kuwata, Image courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.
Where could I look at the works of Takuro Kuwata and purchase online? This is amazing work. I would welcome any leads.
Thank you.