yAwArAkAi kArA – The Reflecting Skin
May 2025
Maud & Mabel is delighted to announce 'yAwArAkAi kArA – The Reflecting Skin', an evocative exhibition hosted in the tranquil setting of 4 Cromwell Place. Bringing together the works of acclaimed ceramicists Akiko Hirai and Kenta Anzai, this show coincides with the celebration of London Craft Week, offering an intimate exploration of surface, substance, and the interplay between strength and fragility.
The exhibition’s title, yAwArAkAi kArA (translating to "soft shell"), suggests a delicate yet resilient boundary, while the subtitle, The Reflecting Skin, references the reflective interplay of light, shadow, and material, drawing inspiration from Tanizaki’s In Praise of Shadows and the emotive depths of its cinematic namesake.
Akiko Hirai, based in London, crafts ceramics that blend Japanese and British traditions with intuitive, spontaneous energy. Her textured forms evoke rawness and vitality, blurring the line between utility and art. In contrast, Kenta Anzai’s minimalist works, created in Fukushima, embody precision and refinement. Utilizing urushi lacquer and a meditative process, his serene forms reveal the quiet beauty of imperfection and time’s imprint.
Curated by Maud & Mabel, the exhibition explores the concept of “skin” as a metaphor for the surfaces of Hirai and Anzai’s works. Presented side by side at Cromwell Place’s Gallery 12, their contrasting approaches engage in a dialogue of texture, form, and materiality. Hirai’s organic layers meet Anzai’s minimalist precision, inviting visitors to reflect on the dynamic balance of resilience and vulnerability.
Exhibition Dates: May 2025
Venue: Gallery 12, Cromwell Place, 4 Cromwell Place, London, SW7 2JE
As part of London Craft Week, our 'yAwArAkAi kArA' exhibition at Cromwell Place will be featured alongside exciting showcases including Turquoise Mountain's traditional Burmese crafts, Soluna Art Group's 'Landscape of Materials,' and the Korea Heritage Agency's modern interpretations of Korean craft. Many other thrilling exhibitions will be held nearby and throughout London.
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