Ceramic raku fired lifesize torso

This evocative sculpture captures the fierce, quiet courage of self-exposure. The piece symbolises the vulnerable moment of stripping away the daily facade to reveal the authentic person within.

The torso's unique mottled surface is the result of the dramatic Raku firing process. After being heated to high temperatures in the kiln, the red-hot ceramic was rapidly removed and placed in a sealed chamber with combustible materials. This process - known as post firing reduction - starves the piece of oxygen, creating the deep, smoky blackness in the unglazed clay and the irridescent, unpredictable colours in the glaze. The technique itself mirrors the theme: embracing the beautiful, unpredictable truth that emerges from the fire.

The piece can be positioned against a wall or alternatively hung on a wall.