My interest in traditional Japanese culture and the concept of Wabi-Sabi turned out to combine wonderfully well with Raku. Wabi-Sabi roughly means that you find peace in simplicity and have respect for the imperfect. That's why I like Raku. it is never perfect, always broken and unpredictable.
Raku is a ceramic process that is fired in a kiln, which (unlike a ceramic kiln) can withstand large, rapid temperature differences. The raku glaze layer is heated to more than 1000 degrees in an hour and suddenly brought into the open air so that 'craquelures' occur. After this the cracks are blackened with fire by placing the bowls in sawdust that catches fire due to the enormous heat, after which they are cooled with water.
It is always different and yet always beautiful. It takes away control of the final product and remains a mystery that never ceases to amaze.
