Although this artist shares the same name as the more famous Abstract Expressionist painter, this Okada Kenzō works in the very different medium of ceramics. The artist created Wind Vase early in his career, when he worked mainly with ash, salt, and iron glazes to create subdued colors. The muted tones of this vase express the Japanese concept of wabi, which celebrates aged textures and rusticity. Okada’s work also embodies the modern fascination with fluidity of form and movement, which in this work is apparent in the unusual curved shape of the sculpture.
