吉竹弘 Yoshitake Hiroshi (1938–2010) — “風のメッセージ / Message from the Wind”

Glazed ceramic sculpture, signed, with signed and sealed tomobako. This work is not a vase: the base is hollow and the piece is constructed as an autonomous volume, in the sculptural vocabulary of the Kyoto avant-garde associated with Sōdeisha.

The triangular, almost architectural form is taut along a central edge and slightly raised off the ground by small feet, reinforcing the impression of a suspended mass. A rectangular recess cuts through the wall like a deliberate incision, and circular openings visible on the edge allude to the internal logic of the volume's construction.

The surface is intentionally rough rather than decorative. The dark, brownish-black enamel alternates between glossy and matte areas and displays a network of tight cracks. The irregularities in the material and variations in enamel thickness catch the light and give the work a dense presence that is both minimal and very physical.

Tomobako, title and authentication

The tomobako bears the title "風のメッセージ" (Kaze no messēji, "Message from the Wind"). It is signed "吉竹弘" (Yoshitake Hiroshi) with a seal. The sculpture is also signed; the signature has been verified and the entire piece is authenticated.

Biographical elements

Yoshitake Hiroshi was born in Kyoto in 1938. In 1964, he became the first student of Kazuo Yagi, a major figure in the Japanese ceramic avant-garde. He was a member of the Sōdeisha group from 1968 and remained active until its dissolution in 1999. His career was marked by exhibitions in Japan and internationally, as well as his participation in the New Ceramic Sculpture movement. He settled in Mochizuki, Nagano Prefecture (now Saku Prefecture), in 1990 and died in 2010.

Dimensions : approximately 37.5 × 20 cm; thickness approximately 5 cm.