Kazunori Hamana

Lot #29
Untitled, 2021
Ceramic
11 x 10.6 x 10.6 inches
Courtesy of the artist and Blum & Poe, Los Angeles, New York & Tokyo

About the Artwork

Inspired by traditional Japanese tsubo, functional clay jars dating back to prehistoric times, Kazunori Hamana makes delicate vessels out of natural clay sourced from Shiga prefecture in Japan. Shaped with improvisation and experimentation, this earthenware provides a contemporary look at one of Japan’s oldest traditions, while also preserving its legacy. The artist incorporates a slow and gradual process informed by the rhythm of his daily life in the rural fishing village of Chiba and its surrounding nature. After the pots are fired, Hamana places them outside his studio not far from the Pacific coast, a process that imbues the vessels with iodized air bearing traces of saltwater. As these objects continue to dry under the radiant sun, enveloped in bamboo trees or washed by the sea, nature plays a pivotal role in their transformation. Hamana has had solo exhibitions at institutions including Curator’s Cube in Tokyo and Blue Projects at Blue Mountain School in London; his work was included in a group exhibition curated by Takashi Murakami at Blum & Poe, Los Angeles.

Retail Value: $5,000