In this objet d’art, Alyne Ohigashi draws inspiration from marine life, biology, and her imagination to create a fantastical porcelain sculpture. Inspired by live coral, this piece also recalls the forms of flowers and the colors of tide pools. Ohigashi’s skill with glaze comes alive here as multiple layers of glaze flow and meld together like the waters of a warm tropical sea. Every element of the texture is individually crafted and applied by hand, giving this piece a naturally organic rhythm. Wonderfully tactile, it offers new ways of experiencing form and color, revealing more of its secrets with every viewing. Exploring new possibilities in Tobe ware, Ohigashi remains true to the materials of the craft while adding her own innovations. Each of her pieces is sculpted out of Tobe porcelain—a challenge to work with for such detailed pieces. Drawing on marine and botanical shapes and hues familiar to her from a childhood spent in the Philippines, Ohigashi skillfully unifies her two homelands. The final result feels both nostalgic and new, familiar and strange, an intriguing ambiguity that encourages the viewer to create their own meaning. Just like a real living creature, this piece encourages an emotional bond with its caretaker. Each element reflects both the symmetry and variation of 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 lively conversation and quiet reflection. It is a playful symphony of imagination, a rhythmic ode to nature.
