When Art Imitates Architecture

April 01, 2015

Wandering the streets of Kanazawa, Japan, a city celebrated for its long history of art and craft, we were struck by the similarities between the art and the architecture.

The deep natural glaze of this Ohi-style bowl by artist Matsu Daida Yukio reminded us of the glossy black sangawara tiles developed during the 17th century in Edo-era Japan.

The mottled glaze of this contemporary ceramic bowl by Hondaya Syokiten are reminiscent of the patina of ancient worn stone Shinto and Buddhist statues found tucked away on every side-street in Kanazawa.

The weathered wood of Edo-era teahouses are reflected in the grain of Yamanaka lacquerware which is made using vertically cut Zelkova and Horse Chestnut trees and a woodturning lathe technique.