‘Superficially, my work appears to be quiet in white. It does not show the rawness of Mother Nature directly. A symbolic figure always looks more perfect than the actual person he/she is. Imagination and fantasy always reinforce the imperfection and achieve the perfection with its own originality.
Therefore the completion of my work is done by the viewer. My work is a creation on its own.’
‘Superficially, my work appears to be quiet in white. It does not show the rawness of Mother Nature directly. A symbolic figure always looks more perfect than the actual person he/she is. Imagination and fantasy always reinforce the imperfection and achieve the perfection with its own originality.
Therefore the completion of my work is done by the viewer. My work is a creation on its own.’
Inspired by Wabi-Sabi and the Timeless Beauty of the Moon Jar
Akiko Hirai is an acclaimed ceramic artist known for her expressive and dynamic approach to the moon jar. She first became captivated by it after encountering an 18th-century moon jar at the British Museum once owned by Bernard Leach and later Lucie Rie.
A Contemporary take on a Traditional Form
Where traditional Moon Jars express their details in subtle, whispered textures, Hirai’s surfaces burst with dynamic energy. Her signature Moon Jar form begins with a carefully thrown lower half, followed by a coiled upper half, but this is merely the starting point of her sculptural exploration. Through her expressive and textural approach, she redefines this historic Korean vessel, merging tradition with contemporary artistry.
Originally from Japan, Akiko Hirai first studied psychology before moving to London in 1999 to pursue her passion for ceramics. Her work is deeply rooted in traditional Japanese pottery techniques, blending heritage with contemporary expression.
Hirai draws inspiration from daily life and its connection to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi – an aesthetic that embraces imperfection, transience, and the beauty of impermanence. This philosophy sees flaws and asymmetry as integral to nature’s holistic perfection, a concept that profoundly shapes her artistic approach.
Hirai was one of five artists selected in 2013 for an exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre, exploring contemporary responses to the iconic Moon Jar. In 2019, her piece The Moon Jar ‘The life of…’ was shortlisted for the prestigious LOEWE Craft Prize. It was praised for its ‘expressive and energized gestural interpretation’ of this historic form.
Her work is featured in prominent museum collections, including:
Akiko Hirai lives and works in London, United Kingdom.
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