I am Anagama Cube Vase No. 17. With my mossy green hues and gradient, it’s as if I’ve been resting beneath the sea. My form is contemporary, yet I carry whispers of a life long lived—an echo of what I might have been before.

Curator's Notes 

The cube shaped vases in this Anagama series, stand apart, like the , as a departure from Iwata-san’s organic, stone-inspired forms. Although its geometric lines are bold, the raw edges and subtle irregularities make this work feel incredibly natural, as if it’s been shaped by time itself. The unpredictability of the Anagama kiln gave this vase a stunning mossy green hue, with a soft gradient that moves upward, almost as though it had been submerged in algae for years and gently pulled from the ocean depths. Despite being a contemporary work of functional art, there’s something timeless about it—like it carries echoes of past lives. Could it have been a box, a dice, a keepsake from an ancient time? It feels antiquated in the best way, weathered by history, yet remains modern. It’s more than just a vase—it’s a vessel for memories, both imagined and real, waiting to be discovered.

Anagama No.17 - Cube Vase was curated by Angélique Chmielewski

Designer/Maker 

Artist: Keisuke Iwata

Specifications

Dimensions: 

Approximately 1.8" (w) x 2.0" (l) x 1.8" (h) or 46mm (w) x 51mm (w) x 46mm (h

Weight: 

0.2 lbs or 0.1 kg

Materials: 

Ceramic

Details

• One-of-a-kind functional sculpture vase handmade by Keisuke Iwata in Fukuoka, Japan 
• An Anagama kiln fired piece
• Flowers and water can be contained through two small holes at the top surface 
• Water can be inserted into the small holes via a liquid syringe or by submerging the vase in a bucket of water 
• Created using an ancient Japanese ceramic technique that involves an Anagama woodfired kiln, fired in a ceremonial process by Keisuke Iwata
• Anagama works are each unique to the clay's own intimate interactions with the flames and ash
• Watertight material