(Sōzen-style basket) c. mid 20th century

This ‘Sōzen-style basket’ was made by Yokota Hōsai, sometime in the 20th century, using bamboo. It's a dance of earthy hues, woven together like a complex drawing in three dimensions. The material has a tactile quality, a kind of coarse refinement, you know? The surface isn’t smooth; it's got texture and depth, and you can almost feel the artist’s hand as he coaxes these strands into shape. I keep thinking about this one spot where the weave tightens, forming this unexpected knot - it’s a tiny disruption, a little hiccup that brings the whole thing to life. And it makes me think of Anni Albers. Both artists play with structure and surface and find new possibilities through repetition. The basket is not just about function; it's a conversation. A way of seeing and feeling and, most of all, making.