KOSAKU KANECHIKA is pleased to present Takuro Kuwata’s solo exhibition “TEE BOWL” from July 17 to August 21, 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 categorized 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 endeavors 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.

 

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General information

Exhibition
Takuro Kuwata "TEE BOWL"

Dates
July 17, 2021 - August 21, 2021

Hours
11 am - 6 pm
Closed on Sun, Mon and National Holidays

Location
KOSAKU KANECHIKA
TERRADA Art Complex 5F
1-33-10 Higashi-Shinagawa
Shinagawa-ku
Tokyo
140-0002
+81(0)3-6712-3346
kosakukanechika.com

Free admission

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Takuro Kuwata

Takuro Kuwata was born in Hiroshima, Japan in 1981. Following his graduation from Kyoto Saga University of Arts in 2001, in 2002 he began studying under ceramic artist Susumu Zaima. In 2007, he graduated from the Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center and is currently based in Gifu, Japan. His works have been exhibited globally in cities such as Brussels, London, and New York, and has been included in major group exhibitions including “Art Crafting Towards the Future” (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, 2012), “Japanese Kogei | Future Forward” (the Museum of Arts and Design, New York, 2015), and “Takashi Murakami’s Superflat Consideration on Contemporary Ceramics” (Towada Art Center, Aomori, 2017). Kuwata was a finalist for the LOEWE Craft Prize in 2018, and his works have been acquired by various international public collections including the Rubell Family Collection, the Palm Springs Museum, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. From September 10th to October 24th, 2021, Kuwata’s work will be featured in the craft festival and group exhibition “GO FOR KOGEI.” “TEE BOWL” will be the artist’s second solo exhibition at KOSAKU KANECHIKA, following his 2017 show “I’m Home, Tea Bowl.”