A Gracefully elongated silhouette by Nagakusa Yohei demonstrating the artist’s refined control of flowing glaze and rhythmic surface structure enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Ryūsai-ji Hanaire (“Flowing Glaze Porcelain Flower Vase”). The vessel rises from a rounded lower body articulated with vertical fluting that guides the movement of glaze during firing. From the pale, luminous white of the slender neck, the surface gradually descends into cool blue and deep indigo tones that gather within the carved ridges, creating a soft gradient reminiscent of water deepening in shade as it descends. The flared mouth opens gently like a small blossom, while the narrow waist lends the form an elegant vertical tension. Both sculptural and functional, the vase reveals Nagakusa’s ability to combine precise porcelain throwing with the quiet unpredictability of glaze in motion. The work measures approximately 29 cm (11-1/2 inches) in height and 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter, and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Nagakusa Yohei was born in Aichi prefecture in 1986. He studied Mechanical Engineering and design in University, and worked for several years in that field before turning to ceramics. He graduated from the Tajimi Ceramics Research Facility in 2014, and was awarded that same year special prize at the Mino Ceramic Art Exhibition as well as being first accepted into the Nihon Dento Kogeiten (National Traditional Crafts Exhibition). He states “Glaze, light, and color are central themes in my work. For this exhibition, I have focused primarily on my ryūsai pieces, which I have been making for the longest time. In ryūsai, several types of fluid glazes are applied separately. During firing, the glazes flow and melt into one another, forming gradients of color. While I control the flow to a certain extent, the final result is entrusted to the firing process, and it is precisely this balance of difficulty and appeal that draws me to the technique. Another element I value deeply is form. I study time-honored shapes and continue to pursue forms that allow both beauty of proportion and the natural movement of glaze to be fully expressed”.
