Pine Forest Desk
1997-8
32" x 63" x 20"
Traditional Japanese lacquer over wood
Collaboration with Yuji Kubo
available for purchase
About this desk:
In 1997-8 I went to Japan for six months in order to collaborate with the lacquer master, Mr. Yuji Kubo. This was the major piece from that time period. The form was inspired in part by the ink stones that are used by Japanese calligraphists, where a natural stone will have a polished depression where the ink is prepared. I like the notion of that material preparation acting as a cleansing process before setting brush to paper.
The pattern on the top is made partly by dropping pine needles into the wet lacquer. After numerous coats are applied, the needles are removed and the surface is flattened and polished.