Takiguchi Kazuo (滝口和男), Japanese (b. 1953)

A Sculptural Black Tea Bowl “Kuroi Utsuwa” (黒いうつわ 茶碗)

1992, United Kingdom 

About the work

A striking black chawan titled “Kuroi Utsuwa” (黒いうつわ) by Takiguchi Kazuo, created during his time at the Royal College of Art in London. This sculptural tea bowl departs from traditional forms, embracing raw surface textures and an elemental black hue that emphasizes its unrefined, meditative character.

The piece features jagged, asymmetric contours and a hand-built appearance, embodying Takiguchi’s philosophy that ceramic works should transcend function and connect with viewers on an emotional level. The surface bears an intense, volcanic texture, evoking both geological and poetic sensibilities.

This 1992 piece is housed in its original tomobako (signed wooden box) and stands as a prime example of the artist’s early international period, where the fusion of Japanese language, aesthetics, and sculptural abstraction began to define his unique style.

Dimensions

6.9cm(h) x 13.8cm(w) x 13.5cm(d)

Footnote

Born in 1953 in Gojozaka, Kyoto, Takiguchi Kazuo grew up at the heart of Kyoto’s ceramics culture. Though he initially studied under Kiyomizu Rokubei VI and Yagi Kazuo, it was Yagi’s avant-garde and sculptural approach that left a lasting impression. Graduating from the Royal College of Art in London in 1992, Takiguchi has since focused on creating ceramic works rooted in language and individual expression—vessels not only of form, but of thought and emotion.