DISCOVER IN FILM:

AKIKO HIRAI’S SOLO EXHIBITION KAZAHANA AT KALPA GALLERY

The Winter encourages us to pause, to reflect and to find joy in the things that truly matter to us. It is in this spirit that KAZAHANA by the Japanese ceramicist Akiko Hirai brings us light and inspiration, inviting us towards a serene state of contemplation. 

Much like the delicate snowflakes that grace the winter season, the organic movements in Hirai's works call to mind fleeting moments of wonder. The title of her new solo show draws inspiration from the flurry of wind-blown snow, for "kazahana" (風花) means "wind flowers" and beautifully describes the volatile swirl of snow as petals dance in the breeze. The exhibition curated by Eleonora Raspi for KALPA remains open in the Gallery's historical venue of the Palazzo Bonomini in Volterra until February 2025 - join us in season's celebration!

Discover KAZAHANA in a short film:

KAZAHANA showcases a selection of Hirai’s signature forms, including Moon Jars and Poppy Pods, as well as sculptural vessels titled Poppy Pod Tripods. Her asymmetrical ceramic forms are organic and expressive—metaphors for human life. Each unique and imperfect piece is a vessel with its own story, bearing witness to the passage of time and the events that shape our existence and honors the beauty of chance and the alchemical journey of creation. Embracing the principles of wabi-sabi, Hirai highlights the beauty found in imperfection and contrast, guiding the viewer into a dreamlike world born from her spontaneous creative process.

The vision behind this body of work, part of her recent series Dormant, reflects the fundamental and liberating role of sleep, when our minds and bodies engage in a continuous quest to process the complexities of human emotion. It is within this realm that Hirai seeks solace, particularly drawn to the REM phase, where emotions are regulated and deposited in our memories, akin to snowflakes and petals gently falling across the landscape of our minds.

Read more about KAZAHANA:  A TRAIL OF IMPERMANENCE 

Originally from Japan, Akiko Hirai (1970) established her studio within a vibrant creative collective in The Chocolate Factory N16, London, more than twenty years ago. She is currently one of the most innovative and acclaimed talents in the world of ceramics. During her career, the artist has exhibited extensively in Japan, Europe, the UK, and the US. Her work is highly esteemed, with pieces included in permanent collections such as the Keramikmuseum Westerwald (Westerwald Ceramic Museum), the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin, and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. In 2019, she was shortlisted for the prestigious Loewe Foundation Craft Prize.

Video: Olga Makarova for KALPA

Photo of Akiko Hirai: Philip Sinden, Courtesy of the Artist

Paintings exhibited in KALPA together with Hirai's sculptures: Eleanor Herbosch and Olga Niescier

KALPA INSTAGRAM