Botanical Textures Objet d'Art 2

In this objet d'art, Tobe ware artist Ohigashi Alyne imaginatively combines natural forms to create a fantastical, elegant botanical sculpture. Inspired by cactus textures, this piece also evokes durian and flower silhouettes. Fascinating in its sense of flow and its tactile feel, it seems to be in a constant state of growth, revealing new details with every viewing.

Meticulously crafted by hand out of Tobe porcelain—notoriously difficult to work with for such detailed art pieces—this objet d’art exhibits Ohigashi’s vivid glazing techniques. Multiple layers of glaze display the keen sense of the natural world exhibited in all of Ohigashi’s work. Satin-smooth and near-reflective, color pools and ripples across the textured surface, inviting appreciation from every angle.

Exploring new possibilities in Tobe ware, Ohigashi remains true to the materials of the craft while imbuing it with innovative modes of expression. Drawing on plant shapes and ocean hues familiar to her from a childhood spent in the Philippines, Ohigashi skillfully unifies lands, cultures, and ways of seeing. The result feels both nostalgic and new, familiar and strange, encouraging the viewer to create their own meaning.

Just like a real plant, this piece encourages an emotional bond with its caretaker. Every single ridge and curve is unique, reflecting both the symmetry and variation alive in the natural world. Not only beautiful but a delight to touch, this work brings a refreshing yet grounded presence to a foyer, centerpiece, or desk, inviting in turns conversaion and quiet reflection. It is a playful symphony of imagination, a rhythmic ode to nature that will never fade.

Ohigashi Alyne

Ohigashi Alyne works within the time-honored craft of Tobe ware, bringing her unique voice to this centuries-old medium. Combining traditional techniques with her own distinct designs and glazing styles, she turns the pristine white surfaces of Tobe porcelain into canvases for her vibrant colors and textures.

With a background in agricultural research, Ohigashi excels in botanical and natural motifs and forms. Through a combination of intuition and a deep understanding of technique and materials, she crafts ceramic sculptures and objets d’art that seek to expand the horizons and possibilities of Tobe ware as a medium.

Tobe Ware

Tobe ware is porcelain produced in the Tobe region of Ehime Prefecture, located in the northwest of Shikoku Island. The white porcelain, with its beautiful, slightly bluish hue from the iron content, continues to be highly valued and loved. Tobe ware maintains a strong respect for traditional handicraft techniques, even amidst modernization.