takuro kuwata’s counter traditionalist work is surprisingly not a reaction against centuries of japanese ceramic tradition, but rather an expression of his own passions. he seems to respect the teachings of his master but eventually succumbs to the curiosity of experimenting with concepts that are anathema to tradition. the results were literally explosive. not only are the colours (usually reserved for accents) excitingly vibrant, but even the application of glazes and stones to his work is done as experiments and exaggerations of techniques. kuwata seems fascinated with the surprise element of the process and instead of calculated control, he exercises a near complete abandon in the firing. the result of this is unconventionally distorted shapes and vessels almost sweating shiny beads or bursting with a cracked lustred glaze. strangely this happy reward is not so far removed from the philosophical simplicity inherent to japanese ceramics, merely expressed in a different way. the intrigue and interest that develops from the unexpected and unpredictable is a beautiful metaphor and evokes a certain emotive connection born perhaps from the knowledge of our own volatility.