RAKU WARE

Raku wares were originated in the Momoyama period (1573-1615) by Chōjirō, the founder of the Raku family, under the guidance of Sen Rikyū (1522-1591) who established the aesthetic philosophy of wabicha, wabi way of tea. The method of making Raku tea bowls is unique. Rather than being thrown on the wheel, the bowls are shaped by hand and carved with spatulas. They are then fired individually in small muffle kilns.

All the Raku successive generations, whereby only the head of the family assuming the name Kichizaemon has made tea bowls as a sole successor to the name and of the tradition (a process known as Isshi Sōden in Japanese) and have always respected Chōjirō’s intentions while pursuing their own forms of expression. Tradition and creativity have thus gone hand in hand for over 450 years.

Raku Jikinyū, who was the 15th generation head of the Raku family, has been especially inventive. As well as making Black and Red Raku bowls in the classic manner, he has pioneered a new Black Raku technique called yakinuki, which he uses for tea caddies, fresh water jars, as well as tea bowls.Over the years he has created many bowls of unrivalled originality.

This exhibition highlights a selection of Black Raku and Yakinyuki Black Raku tea bowls made by Kichizaemon XV・Raku Jikinyū. Made using traditional techniques and materials, his Black Raku bowls are unequivocally modern in feeling. Sculpted, distorted and glazed in multiple colours, his yakinuki bowls are the essence of contemporaneity. His most recent works called as Ganseki Chawan, literally Rock tea bowl, are monumental, monotone and have the quiet presence of silent rocks. We hope you will enjoy this exhibition and the possibilities afforded by the Black Raku and Yakinuki Black Raku tea bowl.