Yoko Ozawa Kirikabu ‘Stump’ Wide Large White

Dimensions: D 18cm x H 21cm

Materials: Stoneware clay 

Method: Hand-thrown

Care instructions: Fully functional and water-tight. Hand wash. This piece will stain easily so it is suggested to avoid using for tea, coffee, sauce, etc  

Masterfully hand-thrown in stoneware from South Australia and exhibiting a natural colour and roughness from the earth, this sublime ‘kirikabu’ vessel, meaning stubble or stump in Japanese, is playfully reminiscent of tree cutters' stumps. Its simple, poetic form, with a generous silhouette and elegantly slim spout, is punctuated on each side by an intentional dimple, enhancing the tactile nature of the vessel when held in the hand. Its form is balanced perfectly with its natural, often generously applied glaze - creating a patina unique to each piece and a rough, organic texture. The soft, warm tone of its body, patterned with glazing tracks reminiscent of rainfall, display tonal shifts - oscillating between areas of delicate mustard-coloured speckles and cooler, watery tones. 

“I was amazed by the wild nature of Australia; especially the eucalyptus trees. The bark strips off in the winter and presents smooth skin with subtle colours. It’s a wonderful sensation walking in the forests”

Ozawa’s work displays a pervading exploration of the Japanese notion of yohaku, meaning blank space. Translated into her ceramic works, yohaku defines the space and stillness surrounding objects. For Ozawa, the notion of the space inside her works holds possibility and meaning, not simply ‘nothingness’. In this way, they engage in a dialogue with the concept of yohaku, resulting in an enhanced apprehension of the world and our own mind. Yoko Ozawa’s work is heavily informed by a sustained interest in the natural world; seasonal transitions, temperature, light, shadow, fog, rain and snow. Their simplistic but harmonious shapes are realised in subtle tones and intricate crackle glazes which draw on the textures and tones from her upbringing in the Japanese countryside and the Australian landscape she is now surrounded by. 

About the Artist: Melbourne-based artist Yoko Ozawa began practising ceramics in 2003, whilst working as a graphic designer in Tokyo. Born in Japan, Ozawa formally trained in both Fine Art, with a focus on Japanese painting, at Musashino University, Tokyo and Graphic Design at The Japan Design College. Upon relocation to Australia in 2012, Ozawa established her own studio. She has since exhibited around the world, with solo exhibitions and numerous group shows throughout Australia, Japan and England.