Sumu Woven Water Container

This glass vessel by artist Takeoka Kensuke is a mizusashi, or water container for the Japanese tea ceremony. Mizusashi plays a quiet yet essential role in holding fresh water and sustaining the rhythm of the tea ritual. The name Sumu comes from the Japanese for “clear, pure, and lucid,” evoking a sense of mental freshness and calm clarity. Drawing inspiration from the presence of traditional Japanese bamboo baskets, this piece explores the idea of “weaving with glass,” transforming a familiar structural language into a translucent, sculptural form. The resulting work resides within this contradiction, where glass—a material typically seen as hard and unchanging—gains an organic warmth and temporality, just as handwoven baskets grow more beautiful with the passage of time.

The form begins with individual glass rods—some gently curved, others left straight—which are carefully assembled into a lattice structure. This is arranged atop a base glass form, which is then blown into the vessel’s final shape. The woven rhythm remains visible throughout, yet the structure avoids rigidity, as if the form has gently come to rest. Completing the piece is a lid carved from horse chestnut wood. Its subtle sheen and soft texture add a warm, tactile presence that grounds the composition.

As daylight shifts, shadows gather and dissolve within the layered glass lines, revealing different aspects of the work throughout the day. The spaces between each strand are as significant as the material itself, establishing a delicate balance between presence and absence. Whether used in the tea room or displayed as a standalone object, this water container brings a sense of calm stillness to its surroundings.

Takeoka Kensuke

Kensuke Takeoka was born in 1996 in Kanagawa Prefecture. He graduated from the Glass Program in the Craft Department at Tama Art University in 2019, then moved to Toyama to continue his studies at the Toyama City Institute of Glass Art.

He has received awards since 2018, most notably the Silver Prize at the International Glass Exhibition Kanazawa 2019 and First Place at the Glass Art Society Virtual 2021 Student Exhibition. 

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