Yanagihara Mutsuo 柳原睦夫 Japanese, b. 1934
H34.5 × W32 × D33 cm
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In his abstraction of nature, Yanagihara Mutsuo has created the “Flower Eating” vessel series, characterized by swollen bellies and cavernous interiors that seem to beckon a bouquet of flowers. Playful spiral motifs enliven the surface, adding a sense of movement. Evoking the image of a carnivorous plant with an engorged belly, the work reflects Yanagihara’s enduring fascination with botany. Like these deceptive plants, his vessels engage in a kind of trickery—creating optical illusions that disorient and delight the viewer. This vessel's form contorts skywards, creating an upward motion of the work appearing to come alive in movement.
By blending botanical forms with anthropomorphic gestures- breathing, eating- the vessels become mischievous, animated objects that blur the boundary between sculpture and function. The result is a series brimming with vitality, personality, and playful tension.
