Raku Pottery

or rather an introduction to how this adventure really began at @ Malceramice at ul. Czereśniowa :)

Raku - a mysterious technique of firing ceramics, the history of which is on the one hand unexpectedly simple and at the same time more complicated than it might seem.

Japanese Raku is a technique that dates back to feudal Japan and a certain extraordinary legend. The accounts here vary as to where it took place, whether it was in the court of the Emperor or the Shogun.

Nevertheless, the birth of Raku was accompanied by fire and the literal burning of Chōjirō's pottery workshop during

preparing vessels for the tea ceremony. Vessels

subjected to an uncontrolled firing process, they were so

it is extraordinary that the Shogun, seeing them, exclaimed Raku, which means

unexpected joy. The legend does not end with a happy ending,

although for a family of potters from a village near Kyoto it was

crowned with the family title Raku (the pottery is still in operation

to this day since the 16th century and only this family has the right

use this name!) the master of ceremonies was given the honor

committing Sepuku.

Japanese Raku is the source, inspiration, birthplace

a new perspective on art for Westerners. Handcrafted

moulded tea vessels, fired at low temperature

temperature, mainly black or red (depending on

composition of glazes).

If we are talking about Raku ceramics, we are probably referring to

the style itself, which has a huge influence and direction at the same time

transformation American artists had. We can say here,

that the story begins in the 1940s. I will mention

here Warren Gilbertson, who studied raku in Japan,

In the 1940s he presented an exhibition

of his works at the Chicago Art Institute. Then came the time

experiments and fun. Unexpected firing effects

today they work like a magnet.

Raku is so different from the canon of Western art that it has found its way into

many aesthetic hearts. It emphasizes the asymmetry, the beauty of what

accidental and spontaneous. It captivates with its naturalness and

authenticity. It impresses with a small flaw that is

emphasizing the essence of beauty.

The spirit of Raku is the elements of surprise, the abandonment of attachment

to what is planned, continuous development and discovery

unknown. No demands should be made here, nothing

you shouldn't expect, you can only hope...

surprises. It is learning to accept other solutions and a place

for intuition. This gives a deeper understanding of this technique, which has

more spiritual in nature than commonly made vessels

utility. Currently, it includes sculpture and decorative forms.

The need for exploration, experimentation, searching

new forms of expression in ceramics by ceramic artists,

created many innovative techniques, and Raku itself, thanks to

Paul Soldner has been called American Cancer. No

however, the name Raku for these techniques has deeply embedded itself

into the common nomenclature of alternative techniques.