Friday, December 23, 2011

Kawara in walls


fuk174

Kawara, ceramic rooftiles originally introduced from Korea for early temple roofs gradually spread to palaces and other major buildings.

hagi3740

In the Edo period they began to be mass produced and came to be more widespread. By the twentieth century they had become the standard rooftile.

h7411

Old rooftiles abound. Piled in stacks against collapsing buildings there must be millions of them lying around. A lot of people use them in gardens, to make paths and raised beds.

fuk347

Traditionally they have been recycled and used in the construction of walls.

mit3704

Kawara fascinate me. They make great photos. More galleries on kawara can be found here

1 comment:

  1. Fascinating... That first one is particularly artistic... Who'd have thought wall-builders would create such works of art...

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