183 - Bo Arenander (1954)

Bo Arenander (1954) Sculpture Smoke-fired ceramic 2021 H60 L46 D36 cm Smoke firing, one of the oldest firing techniques, involves exposing the piece to smoke from organic materials, which penetrates the clay and deposits shades ranging from gray to deep black on its surface—effects that are impossible to control entirely. Bo Arenander incorporates this into the form itself: on this ample yet compact volume, the variations in the smoke create a second, almost painterly relief. The absence of glaze leaves the material bare, delicate, and matte. A sculpture in which fire becomes a co-creator of the work, in an approach reminiscent of Nordic ceramics, which emphasizes elementary processes.