⑰NAKAGAWA Mamoru Inlaid vase, alloy of copper and silver, “Rough Coast” 2023

The winter sea of the Noto Peninsula is harsh. The violent waves of the Japan Sea slam against the reefs, transforming their spray into foam. The foamy waves are called “wave flowers” and are known as a winter wonder of the region. This work captures the moment when the “wave flowers” float by. The rog in Nakagawa primarily uses as a base material is an alloy of silver and copper, and its heavy hue emphasizes the severity of the winter sea. In comparison, the wave portions are brighter and made of gold and shibuichi alloy, which has a different proportion of silver than rogin. In addition to the color variation, the inlay of abstracted patterns of wave movement ingeniously conveys the dynamism of the sea.