Platter c. late 20th century

Takeuchi Kimiaki made this Platter, sometime before 2011, using ceramic and glaze. The glaze is applied in a way that lets it run, almost drip, which is so evocative of process. Looking closely, the glaze has a life of its own, pooling in some areas and thinning out in others, creating a sense of depth and texture. The colors are earthy – greens, browns, whites – but they blend and bleed into each other, creating surprising effects. There's this one area, a sort of mossy green at the center, where the glaze seems to have bubbled up, giving it a three-dimensional quality. It’s like a tiny, contained landscape. This Platter reminds me of the work of Lucie Rie, another ceramic artist who embraced imperfection and chance. Both artists show us that art is not about control, but about collaboration with the material. It's a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist's intention and the medium's own tendencies. And that's where the magic happens.