Raku: The Cosmos in a Tea Bowl at LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) presents Raku: The Cosmos in a Tea Bowl (March 29–June 7, 2015). This exhibition comprises nearly 100 masterpieces with examples from all 15 generations and the next generation of the Raku family, whose celebrated legacy continues to influence global ceramics. In the West, the term "raku" refers to a quick, low-fire technique for making ceramics that is often used to teach beginners. This technique traces back to a Japanese family of potters or, more specifically, to the originator of the technique, Raku I (Chōjirō), who lived in the 1500s. Since then, for over 400 years a single person named Raku has represented each of the 15 generations as a Raku Master. More than half of the ceramic objects in the exhibition are tea bowls; there are two Registered Important Cultural Properties and one Registered Important Art Object. Special permission from the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Culture was required to include these Registered works in this exhibition. Other works include incense containers and burners, food utensils, water jars, and other objects used in the Japanese tea ceremony. SHOWN: Kakunyū (Raku XIV), Japan, 1918-1980, Tea Bowl named 'Juei', 1975, Red Raku ware; glazed ceramic, 3 7/8 x 4 5/8 x 4 5/8 in. (9.7 x 11.7 cm), Raku Museum, Photo: Takashi Hatakeyama
