As spring delicately unfurls, the world is painted in a new light—soft, warm, and inviting. Nature’s transformation offers the perfect setting for Shun Kumagai’s glass vessels. These works are beyond objects, they are vessels of experience, imbued with the spirit of nature itself. They capture the subtle, fleeting beauty of each passing moment.
At the heart of Kumagai’s creations is a dynamic interplay with light, each vessel a canvas that shifts and changes with the movement of the sun. As the first rays of daylight spill over his glass forms in the quiet of the morning, they seem to awaken. The early light dances across their textured surfaces, highlighting every ridge, curve, and detail that has emerged through Kumagai’s intricate casting technique.
In his studio in Akita, Japan, Kumagai uses an alchemical process that combines molten glass, earthy metals, and soil. His use of natural materials—copper, iron, cobalt—conveys a blend of East meets West, bridging the ancient history of glasscraft with the sophistication of Japanese ceramic traditions.
Each vessel is an understated piece of craftsmanship. The rich hues—deep blues, earthy browns, soft glowing yellows, and striking azure—reveal themselves slowly, shifting as the light changes throughout the day. The soft colour palette reflects Kumagai’s own sensibility: a quiet, restrained beauty that speaks to the dignity of imperfection. Each piece is imbued with a sense of calm and stillness, inviting quiet contemplation.
“There is a certain magic in the light,” Kumagai says. “If you have one of my art pieces, I would like you to enjoy feeling the changes of time throughout the days and seasons from it.” This statement encapsulates the essence of his work: it is not just a piece to behold, but an experience to be felt. Each glance uncovers new textures, new details, and new meanings, as the light changes.
The vessels, while powerful and commanding in their presence, are also humble. Their forms speak to a balance between the mighty and the delicate, between complexity and simplicity. The surfaces, touched by time and the weathering process, acquire a patina that enhances their beauty. The passage of time becomes an active participant in the creation of these pieces, shaping them into objects that feel both ancient and new, refined yet raw.
In the gentle stillness of the afternoon, as sunlight softens into a golden glow, Kumagai’s vessels become meditative objects, their surfaces alive with the interplay of light and shadow. It is here, in these fleeting moments of quiet contemplation, that his work reveals its most profound beauty: a balance between form and function, between simplicity and complexity.
As the world around us blooms with the energy of spring, Kumagai’s vessels mirror that same delicate transformation. Though seemingly still, they hum with an energy that is both grounded and ethereal, inviting the viewer to pause and reflect.
We invite you to experience the works of Shun Kumagai in the new light of the season. Let them transform your space, bringing a sense of connection to the world as it awakens.
