With this startling presentation, Boris Starkov continues to break all the rules of conventional shaping and arrives one of the most compelling studies in organicism that I have ever encountered (by anyone, of any nationality.)

Anchored by a heel that I have come to think of as his variant of a surfer, blooms a soft, intuitively asymmetrical mushroom. Within the subtle undulations of the rim, sprinkles of plateau mimic the first signs of the transition from life to decay; a poignant touch that has been appreciated and celebrated within Ch’an/Zen inspired art since the 7th century. While the plateau placement reminds me a bit of Hiroyuki Tokutomi, the bowl shape takes my mind to some of the best work by Shizou Arita. Having said, making an architectonic shank an aesthetic offset to an asymmetric bowl hails back to the Danes. Juxtaposing such a wabi-sabi inspired bowl with sleek, futuristic shank, however, is pure Boris Starkov.

Highly recommended.

Bear Graves