Cup (yunomi) c. early 21th century

Kawai Tōru made this yunomi, or teacup, and it now sits in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I love that spiral groove on the outside, the indigo glaze pooling in the crevices. I can imagine the clay spinning on the wheel, Kawai’s hands coaxing that elegant twist into being. You know, it's kind of like a painter's mark-making—each touch building texture, depth, and form. I wonder, was he thinking of Hokusai’s "Great Wave?" Or maybe he was just enjoying the feel of the clay, the way it responds to pressure, the potential for movement frozen in ceramic. But that’s the thing about art, isn't it? It's a conversation across time, artists borrowing, responding, and riffing off one another. Whether it’s paint, clay, or any other material, the process of making is where the magic happens, where artists explore, question, and ultimately transform the way we see and experience the world.