Akiko Hirai 'Dry White Crackle Plate 103'

Dimensions: ø 43 cm x H 8 cm 

Materials: Porcelain, stoneware blend 

Method: Hand thrown with multiple layers of slips and glazes 

Care instructions: Dust lightly 

Description:

Hirai’s use of multiple layers of light-coloured glazes and slips results in chemical reactions, during which organic forms start to appear. In this sublime crackled glaze plate, these organic shapes unveil through pastel blues, greens, and teals, which is a distinct trait of Hirai’s style. The contrast between the minimalist form and rugged texture create a beautiful balance of subtlety and invite the viewer to uncover new intricate details with every glance.

About the Artist

Akiko Hirai blends traditional Japanese and contemporary studio pottery methods. Her motivation to study ceramics came soon after moving to London in 1999, where she was introduced to Korean moon jars in the British Museum. By being trained at the University of Westminster and Central St. Martins, as well as working as a lecturer and ceramics technician at Kensington and Chelsea College of Arts, London, Hirai is highly acclaimed and sought after by collectors worldwide.

Using a combination of traditional and contemporary pottery techniques makes Hirai a versatile artist who produces a vast range of functional objects and artworks. In her process of craftmaking, she relies on instinctual impulses and often shuns away from her rhythm being static or repetitive.