Untitled

Hamada Shōji

ca. 1960s · Stoneware with persimmon glaze and polychrome overglaze enamels · Asian Art

Spontaneous vitality, prioritized over perfection, is a frequent hallmark of Hamada’s work. Yanagi Sōetsu, leading theorist of the mingei movement, advocated a nonintellectual approach to achieving beauty that supported Hamada’s methods. Such ideas influenced members of the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, including Peter Voulkos and Ken Price, who moved away from utilitarianism, explored new artistic potentials, and even incorporated mingei aesthetics.

Artist

Hamada Shōji

Date

ca. 1960s

Medium

Stoneware with persimmon glaze and polychrome overglaze enamels

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Samuel and Gabrielle Lurie, 2019