Exhibition Details

Ippodo Gallery is pleased to present Magic of the Tea Bowl Volume III, a showcase of eighteen selected ceramic artists representing styles from traditional to modern—emerging visionaries, rising stars, respected masters, and a Living National Treasure—on view from June 8 until July 13, 2023.
'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: sado or chado. 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 Japanese sensibility. The tea bowl (chawan) is the only art form that arouses such intimate emotions or possesses such a close and physical sensitivity.
Japanese artists have ingeniously sought the perfect chawan form for over four centuries. This precious history flourishes at a regional level; Bizen is one such example of Japan’s 'six great kilns', continuing procedures that have passed from generation to generation ( Jun and Koichiro Isezaki, Hiroshi Goseki). Yet, the modern era brings new developments in kiln machinery and modern pieces of original characters, such as the work of Yukiya Izumita in Japan’s northeast Tohoku region or Kodai Ujiie in the southern-central Chubu–Tokai region.
Tea bowls are a key that activates the five senses with a tactile effect. Each artwork unveils its charm with use and appreciation, whether by participating in Chado or as a visual art form. Alluring patterns and shapes unfold 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 chado, welcoming you to embrace the peaceful sensibility of the tea bowl despite life’s tribulations.
With over 100 artworks joining the exhibition, Ippodo Gallery invites you to discover contemporary achievements in Japanese tea culture and experience their beauty for yourself. Magic of the Tea Bowl Volume III is an audience’s opportunity to behold the spellbinding effects of eighteen virtuoso ceramicists who keep the tradition of chawan alive today: Ryusuke Asai, Yasushi Fujihira, Hideyuki Fujisawa, Noriyuki Furutani, Hiroshi Goseki, Tomoyuki Hoshino, Morimitsu Hosokawa, Agnes Husz, Takeshi Imaizumi, Jun Isezaki, Koichiro Isezaki, Yukiya Izumita, Wakao Makoto, Kohei Nakamura, Mokichi Otsuka, Shion Tabata, Kai Tsujimura, and Kodai Ujiie.