Dear friends,
Almost 25 years ago a friend, whom I loved like an older sister, got married to a ceramic artist; she offered me the opportunity of taking part in her mother-in-law's kaseiki meal cooking class, which was offered at her home.
All the students were older than my mother, consequently, this made me nervous. To my surprise, it was a really great experience because not only did I learn how to make kaiseki meals, but I learned how to arrange the dish with the beautiful ceramics that were made by her father-in-law and her grandfather-in-law, who are great ceramic artists.
Their works had similar colors but differed in nuance and they are so special. It was really what I considered a luxurious experience. During that time my friend's husband was working as his father's assistant and later progressed to him having his own exhibit at Takashimaya Gallery. At his first solo exhibit, I wanted to buy something but the works were pricey for me so, I carefully selected one sake cup.
One of the great things about Japanese tableware is that there is no need for a set, one piece is combined with different pieces made of different materials and designs. When I was young and purchased that sake cup I had no idea that I would be representing his works in New York City. As you may have guessed by now, the artist's name is Kifumi Kawamura. His current works are far more sophisticated.
I still love my sake cup and every time I use it I'm reminded of his first solo exhibit and how exciting it was. These items I've purchased enrich my daily life and bring back memories of a beautiful autumnal night.
All the best,
Kumiko