Jos Devriendt | Cards of Life

For Cards of Life, his fourth solo exhibition at Demisch Danant, open December 8, 2022 through January 7, 2023 the Belgian artist and designer Jos Devriendt presents a new series of work exploring the ancient ceramic technique of raku. First developed in Japan in the 15th and 16th centuries, the art of raku originated from the tea ceremony and is characterized by its distinctively textured surfaces and delicate, crackled glazes, which are a result of its rapid process — the clay is fired, glazed, and cooled within minutes.

In this latest compilation featuring over 50 unique pieces, including lamps and vases, Devriendt advances a new dimension to the tradition of raku through innovative and energetic color combinations as well as through experimentation in form. Hand-crafted lamps comprise a significant number of the works on view. Their exuberant mushroom-like silhouettes are a touchstone for Devriendt who has been perfecting this archetype for over 25 years.

The title of the show itself becomes a metaphor for the artist. Each glaze is a geographical but also spiritual index of life itself. Every choice in his process becomes a lasting mark on these varied surfaces — a journey mapped out along the way that is retained in the final object. Devriendt sees the malleability of clay much like the fluidity of life: “In these ceramics, we can read which path we take in life but also which path we do not take. Life results from the chosen path.”