General News
25 July, 2025
Talbot hosts a raku exhibition
A new exhibition showcasing the art of raku by artist Mark Mason has opened at the Folk Experiment in Fossickers Fine Food and Eatery in Talbot.
Showcasing a selection of his copper matte and horse hair raku ceramic forms, the exhibition titled Raku is a dedication to this method of firing.
Mr Mason fell in love with the magic of clay in the 1960s when he started teachers college in Ballarat and has been making, designing, refining and experimenting with clay form and surface ever since.
While teaching full time, Mr Mason gained an Associate Diploma in Ceramics Design at Frankston Chisolm and later gained a degree in Applied Arts majoring in Ceramic Design at Monash University.
His commitment to his artistic practice and design is impressive and his unwavering devotion to the low fired technique of raku has culminated in his beautiful works now showing in his latest exhibition.
Raku evolved in early Japan, primarily for tea ceremonies.
Since the 1930s, western potters have experimented with this unique low-fired technique.
Mr Mason is drawn to the immediate nature of raku, where a pre-fired pot is glazed and heated to melting point.
Once removed, horse hair is laid on the melting surface and etches a pattern of thin energetic black lines across surface of the pot.
The billowing curved forms are created to encourage the flame to wrap around the surface of the pot as it burns with the combustible materials, glazes, slips and oxides.
Each piece is unique in its response to the materials and creates a three-dimensional painted surface that reveals itself on contemplation.
There will be an opportunity to meet Mr Mason at an Art Series Lunch, where he will discuss his techniques and artistic practice with The Folk Experiment curator, Felicity Martin.
The event will be on Saturday, August 16.
Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased online at www.fossickerstalbot.com.au.
The exhibition itself is free entry and will run until August 24, 2025.