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

Yokota Hōsai made this Sōzen-style basket, and who knows when exactly, right? It's made from woven bamboo. It has this dark, chocolatey color, punctuated by the lighter golden bamboo that peeks through, giving it a certain warmth. I can just imagine Hōsai, sitting there for hours, maybe even days, patiently weaving, the bamboo bending and flexing under his hands. Each strand seems to have its own little curve and bend, like it has a mind of its own. It gives the whole thing a playful, improvisational feel. You know, weaving is an ancient art, and artists today are still inspired by these traditional techniques. It is a conversation across generations, each artist building on what came before, but also adding their own unique voice and vision. And when you look at a piece like this, you can almost hear that conversation echoing through time.