Contemporary Ceramic Moon Jar by Akiko Hirai

A stoneware moon jar made by Akiko Hirai (1970-) made in 2025. In the artist's signature style, the jar was potted on the wheel and covered in a thin white slip for reduced firing, which allows the natural clay color filtering through. Chucks of crushed porcelain fragments were added to the surface and covered in a thick milky celadon glaze mixed with dark green and brown ash glaze to create an explosive volcanic texture. The oxidation process in the kiln also spontaneously generated small "hot spots" of crackled clay patches in white with burnt orange hues. The pot is not big, but it has a powerful and mysterious presence. The base is signed as shown.
Born in Shizuoka, Japan in 1970, Akiki Hirai arrived in London in the 1990s and unintentionally embarked on a journey to become one of the most sought-after ceramists working in UK nowadays. Her work was deeply rooted in traditional Japanese and Korean pottery and driven by the philosophy of Wabi-sabi, not only as an aesthetic but also as a practice in the studio. Her most iconic works are the moon jar series, inspired by the white porcelain jars made in Korea during Joseon Dynasty (15-19th century). These jars embody the essence of humbleness in the contemporary Confucius society by embracing the imperfections and honoring the hand-crafting process.
By using layers of different glazes including slip, wood, ash, magnesium, celadon with surface manipulation such as her iconic explosive porcelain fragment addition, she controlled the kiln firing process while allowing all spontaneous "accidents" to happen during the process, to ultimately achieve a unique aesthetic that is both modern and ancient.
Provenance: from a US collection.