Raku Ceramics By Malaysian Artist Break Into Overseas Markets

By Azlee Nor Mahmud

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- The uniqueness of raku ceramic art, produced by using an ancient Japanese firing technique invented in the 16th century, has sparked the interest of a Malaysian artist to explore its beauty by turning it into contemporary art.

The rainbow hues are formed exclusively on each pottery item produced by artist Adil Abdul Ghani, 46, the man behind RAAQUU, a local artisanal brand well-known among local and foreign pottery enthusiasts.

In fact, since switching to raku art four years ago, this father of three received a very encouraging demand, that he was able to exhibit his craft at the Zhan Art Space gallery in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, in January this year.

“Raku ceramics, produced by an ancient Japanese firing technique, are so special, with unexpected motifs, and as ceramic artists, we don't even know which motifs will be produced from the process, and this is the thrill.

“Even more interesting, the motifs and shades of colour on each of these ceramic products are different from each other; they will not be the same and there is no 'duplicate', and this is the uniqueness of raku ceramics so that it has attracted attention among fans and collectors of this craft, especially international collectors,” he told Bernama.

Having been involved in local ceramic art for more than 20 years, the beauty of raku ceramics, with a distinctive finish through 'painted by fire', rather than the use of dyes, prompted Adil to switch to the technique.

In 2020, Adil became the first local ceramic artist or entrepreneur to take the bold step to try the 'copper matte' raku ceramic method, after doing in-depth research on it.

“Usually, the motifs produced by the firing technique or raku are abstract and contemporary. The process is by burning the object in a kiln with maximum heat level, and then removing it at the height of the firing into a container filled with sawdust and paper.

He said that the process produces unique and interesting motifs and colours which are rarely seen.

Despite switching to the Japanese techniques of making ceramics, Adil, who is also the creative director of RAAQUU, still maintains the uniqueness of local pottery production, as he chooses to stick to clay obtained from Perak, a state famous for making labu sayong, a traditional pumpkin-shaped clay water container.

The combination of local raw materials and the raku method, make the crafts produced by the company even more extraordinary, when they become the focus of home decoration enthusiasts, especially in the United States market.

Available in various sizes, from palm-sized mini vases to waist-high, RAAQUU products which focus on home and office interior decoration are sold at reasonable prices, starting from as low as RM50, up to thousands of ringgit.

“Exploring the raku technique does not mean that we sideline local pottery production methods, as I believe that to remain competent, the craft industry needs to have a new idea to give the products produced a fresh touch to ensure its survival,” Adil said, explaining that RAAQUU's products are coated with a special sealer so that the colour is protected from UV rays and dust for durability.

Having received the Malaysia Good Design Award in 2022, from the Malaysia Design Council, Adil said that RAAQUU's products recently also received a five-star rating from the Malaysia Craft Standard, for three years until 2027.

-- BERNAMA