RAKU | Element of fire
From calming and meditative moments of hand-building… to the dynamic process of firing with open flames.
Hands-on experience that connects us to earth, air, fire, and water — and reminds us how materials come alive through process.
An exciting experience exploring firing techniques rooted in Japanese tradition. We experimented with Obvara, various glazing methods, and created unique surface patterns using materials like sugar, horsehair, and feathers. Each approach revealed how fire reacts with natural elements creating unpredictable and beautiful textures. Also possible thanks to our collaborative efforts.
Raku, smoked feathers, hair and sugar. - The Alchemy of Temperature. When a feather or a strand of horsehair touches the surface at just the right temperature (around 400–500°C), it curls, burns, and leaves behind a sinuous carbon trail—a ghostly residue seared into the clay.
Raku Crackling Glazes - When the hot ceramic piece is removed from the kiln and placed into a reduction chamber (a container filled with combustible materials like sawdust, straw, or newspaper), it cools rapidly. This extreme thermal shock causes the glaze to fracture—creating that crackle pattern.
Obvara | organic fermentation instead of a carbon reduction atmosphere - Obvara involves removing a bisque-fired ceramic piece from a hot kiln (usually at 850–1000°C), then dipping it into a fermented mixture made of: Water, Flour, Sugar and Yeast. The hot ceramic reacts instantly with this organic mixture, causing it to bubble, burn, and scorch the surface. The piece is then quenched in water to stop the reaction.
Obvara Flower
Part of the AMBER GRAIN collection, presented at Zlín Design Week | As part of the AMBER GRAIN collection, this work continues the exploration of folklore, natural materials, and slow transformation through elemental processes.
