Coincidentally and fortunately I found the subtle and profound teawares in the event of Ukrainian traditional and modern arts, held as an event for “Ukraine Week” by the Embassy of Ukraine on last Friday.

The distorted shape of tea cup is similar to “Oribe Yaki” tea ware, which was originally established by Load Oribe, who is known one of the pupils of Sen-no-Rikyu and called as “Heugemono”(eccentric man) due to his intentional distortion of tea ware.

An example of Oribe Yaki teaware exhibited in Kobayashi Chaten in Himeji city.

This distorted shape of Oribe ware could be the result his odyssey for his own original beauty. And I think he had elaborated his own beauty based on the Rikyu’s lesson that puts main significance on the creation of something original based on one’s creativity derived from one’s essence.

I prefer the contrast of inside and outside in color and roughness.

Especially the outside roughness let me feel wildness, on the other hand the inside cracks seems to express the fragileness. The co-existence of ambivalent feature would express “Sabi” elegance of ephemerality. The fragile elegance remind me a phrase of Zen “Kourojou Itten no Yuki”.

The craftsman in Czernowitz seems to produce the tea wares in Japanese style.

His essence could derive the new beauty in tea wares.

I’m eager to prepare match using the tea cup!

Hopefully the crossing different cultures, including Ukraine and Japan, could create more new artifacts and make the quality of our lives much better.

P.S. The event provided an experience of traditional art. In addition, other program will be held till 31th November as events for “Ukraine Week“. For example, Ukraine – Japan friendship concert will be held on 26th (Mon.) November.