PRADA has unveiled CHAWAN CABINET, an exhibition by artist Theaster Gates, in Milano.
At its core, this project features a collection of editioned ceramic vessels and ceremonial forms—objects designed to enhance our gatherings, facilitate rituals, and be held, handled, and honored over time, rather than simply observed.
The initiative arises from a deep-rooted friendship between American artist Theaster Gates and Prada, both sharing a profound appreciation for the intelligence of craftsmanship, cultural richness, the essence of domestic and ceremonial spaces, and a steadfast commitment to innovation.
Conceived and curated by Gates, this selection brings together a series of editioned works that blur the lines between art and functional objects. His creations engage in an intimate dialogue with pieces made by a curated group of Japanese potters and friends: Taira Kuroki (Kyoto, Japan), Yuichi Hirano (Tokoname, Japan), Shion Tabata (Karuizawa, Japan), and Koichi Ohara (Tokoname, Japan).
These works are complemented by large-scale sculptural forms crafted in Theaster Gates’s studio, seamlessly integrated into the installation to contribute to a cohesive spatial narrative. Additionally, a selection from the Prada Home collection is displayed alongside these pieces, further enriching the conversation surrounding function, form, and the rituals of everyday life.
At the center of the project is the chawan, the tea bowl that is fundamental to Japanese tea culture. More than just a functional object, it represents a gesture—an invitation to engage with its form and surface in a deliberate, attentive, and respectful manner. The chawan embodies hospitality, serving as an offering that conveys care, respect, and presence.
In contrast, the yunomi, the everyday tea cup, introduces a different sense of time. Less formal and more immediate, it fits into the rhythm of daily life, characterized by repetition, habit, and comforting calm. While the chawan symbolizes ritual, the yunomi represents continuity. The guinomi, or sake cups, along with the tokkuri, the sake bottles, expand this vocabulary into the social realm: passed from hand to hand, they transform drinking into a shared experience, reinforcing bonds of trust and connection.
Prada’s enduring dialogue between intellectual exploration and material innovation finds a new extension here, creating a framework for spaces and forms of exchange within the domestic sphere. This collaboration unites distinct yet resonant worlds: Italian design, Japanese craft traditions, and Theaster Gates’ artistic and social practice.
The Chawan Cabinet ultimately invites a broader reflection on how we live, how we come together, and how, through form, repetition, and experimentation, even the simplest gestures and everyday vessels can gain depth, meaning, and presence.
Text : Mário de Castro
Prada Home Chawan Cabinet by Theaster Gates Via Montenapoleone 6 Milan
