Tuesday, October 21, 2008

A Tea Pot and Cup by Sel Young Jin







Natural and wild, this erabo tea pot and cup look like they could be newly excavated pieces dating back thousands of years. Sel Young Jin sure has a talent for producing wonderfully textured ceramics that intrigue the senses and the mind.

The pot feels wonderful in one's hands, gloss covering rocky earth. The feel of these works are not matched by the sheer exquisite look of the cracking glaze. The joints that connect the handle and spout of the pot are particularly wonderful as they exhibit a natural roughness and uncut beauty. The grey sandy clay found under and inside this pot is a perfect contrast and allows an unadulterated view at its earthy origins.

Peace

8 comments:

LaoChaGui said...

I am constantly amazed by the tea ware you chose for display on this blog. I like this piece too. Am I understand from your description it is unglazed on the inside of the pot? Did you buy all of the pots and cups you photograph, or are some of them photographed in shops/friends houses/artists studios?

Anonymous said...

The cup and teapot are both lovely. I really like the weathered look of this glaze technique. I am especially intrigued by the pot's handle.
I was also wondering about the teaware you post, as Will asked... where does it all come from??

Matt said...

Will,

The inside is covered in a very thin gloss similar to that which covers the bottom patch of grey. The distinct cracks are created as white tries to contain the grey beneath. It creates such a unique effect.

Nutmeg,

One failed to mention how different this pot feels when gripping the handle. One's index and middle finger grip the handle from below the connection with the pots body while the thumb comes over the top part to stabilize the grip. Interestingly enough it's almost like holding a toy hand gun. In this way one feels that this pot acts to pacify the ingrained, unconscious violent patterning, replacing it with the peace and tranquility of pouring a fresh pot of tea.

The pieces shown on this blog are almost all pictured in friends shops and in art galleries. Amazingly they let one play with, photograph, handle, make tea in, and drink from them even if they are worth tens of thousands of dollars. The pieces in one's tea room are mostly gifts. One tries to keep one's tea room as simple as possible. Cultivating this simple mind is the true meaning behind teaism.

Thanks for your comments Will and Nutmeg.

Peace

geneviève meylan said...

you are lucky to be allow to touch these pieces and experiment tea in these teapots and it is nice to show around all that in your blog....I can enjoy and be amazed too !

Matt said...

Ginkgo,

It is a gift that one can share these wonderful works of tea and art with you.

Enjoy.

Peace

dimitris said...

Amazing shape and texture. So difficult to creat such liberating forms in the way of Wabi sabi aesthetics. Irreguliarity demands not only our admiration, but also, our immediate "participation".
The photos accentuates the artistic beauty. A pleasure for our eyes.

Alexandra Yushan said...

very beautiful photos, the only willing is to catch this teaware up from the screen right now :)

Matt said...

Giovdin,

These pieces by Sel Young Jin are very wabi sabi for such new creations, Sel Young Jin has a tallent for such things. What you mentioned is of key importance, this blog is not to be viewed and read but experienced. Thank you for doing that.

One visited your blog and enjoy your writings and the overall piece that radiate from them. Thanks for stopping by.

Dara,

To imagine it in your hands with warm tea in it is the best way to experience it. Your comments are always welcome here.

Peace