YIN-YANG

As you might imagine, I had a lot of fun making this back in 1997.

It's "Raku"-ware. Raku clay is designed to withstand incredible thermal stress - it's fired to +/- 1000° C in about 20 minutes - removed from the kiln with tongs while still red hot - & in this case placed in a tub of wood shavings which is quickly covered to keep the smoke in.

Carbon from the smoke is deposited on the clay in exciting ways. The "Yang" (red) half was painted with red "terra sigillata" & burnished... As you can see this is peeling off over time which I find pleasing!