Obvara Sculptures, Figure 1
A Corporal study in Obvara.
Ila Ceramica x By Madre.
Part of a series of 3 unique shapes created in collaboration with @IlaCeramica, By Madre is pleased to announce the “Obvara Collection” — finished with a ceramic finishing technique akin to Raku, resulting in an object that is alike, but never the same – created exclusively for By Madre.
Three different sculpture forms, each beautifully poignant on its own, but symbolically harmonious when collected together.
The collection was inspired by corporal forms, a through-line in Ila Ceramica’s work. By Madre, inspired by her body of work, commissioned these distinct figures from shape elements that we loved from Ila Ceramica’s body of work. They were devised to be striking on their own, but work in perfect complimentary synergy with each other, shifting planes, as well as heights.
The beauty of this technique is that despite the laborious precision required to create it, it is impossible to re-create it… exactly alike, resulting in completely unique dappling and color variations within each of the forms in series. Each a series is one of three, resulting in 9 total sculptures.
The Obvara technique is a mainstay in Ila Ceramica's practice and is an exploration of primitive, traditional firing technique where the pieces are taken out of the kiln at 700° Celsius and immediately dipped in liquid fermented flour to acquire these characteristic burnt stains.
The process is so arduous, especially with such large figures that countless vessels didn’t survive the process meaning the final nine were meant to be.
Distinct from Ila Ceramia’s permanent collection, only three of each of these figures exist in the world.
Once all nine sculptures are collected, each shape will go to the archive to make way for the next.
Discover the other two figures in the coming days.
Collect your art object today.
Notes: Sculpted, fired, and obvara finished by hand in Guadalajara, Mexico. Color and size may vary.
Country of Origin: Mexico
Dimensions: H 11.8” x W 11” x D 2.9” (H 30 x W 28 x D 7.5cm)
Materials: Clay x Obvara finish.
Care: Handle with care as you would a delicate art object.
