Recycled glass

Earth Craft: Ceramics

Earth Craft: Ceramics is a project that reimagines the intersection of traditional ceramic craftsmanship and sustainability through the lens of cultural heritage. Designed by Kelly Kim and Hiroshi Sakuma, the project challenges common perceptions of waste and the disposable nature of materials in today’s consumer culture. The duo, hailing from Korean and Japanese backgrounds respectively, sought to explore how discarded materials, especially those deeply embedded in our everyday lives could be transformed into meaningful art and craft. By integrating recycled glass into the ceramic process, the project upends traditional views of “waste” transforming what is often seen as useless into something of inherent beauty and value.

The concept of "Appreciation: Raw Beauty" emerged as the designers focused on the raw, untapped potential of discarded glass, particularly broken glass from bottles and automobile windshields. Glass, which is often regarded as waste once it is no longer in its original form, holds unique properties that lend themselves well to ceramic work. Ceramic clay itself naturally contains glass, specifically silica, which is essential for the structural integrity of the ceramic form after firing. This connection between glass and clay fascinated the designers, as the absence of glass in ceramic pieces would cause them to lose strength and integrity. This led to the central inquiry: why is something considered waste simply because it has been used or cannot be seen? What inherent value lies in materials that are discarded, often simply for lack of recognition?

The process of upcycling broken glass into ceramic pieces became the cornerstone of the project, where the designers sought to shift societal perceptions of materials that were once considered "spent" or no longer useful. Glass bottles, old Coke bottles, and broken auto windshields were repurposed, embodying a new life through innovative experimentation. The research process was rigorous as they explored various firing temperatures, the role of gravity in the glass movement, and the interaction of the glass with the clay body. Through their trials, the duo achieved multiple distinct outcomes, each representing a unique narrative in the fusion of glass and clay.

The designers employed a variety of techniques from fusing glass and clay into a single body to allowing glass to drip and move in response to gravity, creating organic and unpredictable textures. The process of firing these materials together revealed new, unexpected forms, blurring the lines between liquid and solid, fragile and permanent. The resulting works emphasise the beauty of transformation, where each piece is unique, shaped by both the material and the environment in which it is created. This unpredictability of the making process underscores the value of the journey rather than the final product, celebrating the fusion of materials, experimentation, and the inherent beauty that arises from their union.

This project is more than just about the end result; it is an exploration of the transformative power of the making process itself. Through their experiments, the duo are not only investigating the potential of upcycled glass as a material, but also celebrating the cultural significance of ceramics as a medium for storytelling and connection. By honouring the craft and the heritage of ceramic traditions, they invite the viewer to reconsider the potential of discarded materials, urging us to reframe how we view waste in our modern world.

Making process

The process of creating appreciation: raw beauty begins with sourcing recycled glass from broken bottles and automobile windshields. The glass is carefully cleaned and prepared, ensuring no impurities remain that might affect the firing process. Once prepared, the glass is combined with Toshi slip, a traditional ceramic clay, through various experimental methods.

During the making process, the glass can either be fused with the clay to form a single cohesive body or manipulated to interact with gravity, dripping in various ways during firing. The fusion of glass and clay creates distinctive textures, while gravity guided glass adds an organic fluidity to the forms. The unpredictable nature of these materials encourages each piece to take on a unique visual identity, revealing new forms where solid and liquid meet.

This experimental approach combined with extensive research into kiln temperatures and timing has led to a deeper understanding of how glass and clay interact during firing. The use of kiln-supporting tools, variations in form, and the careful monitoring of temperature all play a role in ensuring the glass and clay work together harmoniously, transforming waste into beauty.

Text submitted by the maker and edited by the Future Materials Bank. For information about reproducing (a part of) this text, please contact the maker.