*New Photos* Art of Rakú with Thimo Pimentel at Altos de Chavón

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UPDATE: Scroll down to see more photos with Thimo Pimentel and the Casa de Campo community as they learn the extraordinary art of making Rakú.

Last Tuesday, December 15th, the community of Casa de Campo had the honor of receiving the potter and graphic artist, Thimo Pimentel in the Archaeological Museum of Altos de Chavón, who paid a visit to the community to introduce his book, “Fuego y Rakú” (Fire and Rakú) which won the award for best art book of 2014 by the Association of Art Critics (ACROARTE by its acronym in Spanish).

The event started at 6pm outside of the Altos de Chavón Regional Archaeological Museum, where Thimo met with the Casa de Campo community for a personal demonstration on how he creates his amazing artwork. With tools in hand and already heated oven, he began the process of rakú burning.

Rakú is a Korean ceramic technique from the 16th century influenced by the Zen Buddhist philosophy, with which beautiful and finely detailed ornaments are created. The process, is a complicated one of alchemy in which all four elements —earth, fire, water, and air— are involved in and results in this unique piece of art.

According Thimo Pimentel, rakú burning or “ceramists’ jazz,“ is a process which consists of merging the paste and enamels by fire, allowing the pieces to withstand sudden temperature changes carried out with a reducing atmosphere. He added that this “is a ceremony that also serves to congregate a group of people in friendship through an ancient art form.”

His new publication “Fuego y Rakú” invites experts and beginners to learn about this art: its base, elements, shapes, ways of decorating and burning, including the perspective of guests artists.

Sneaky Art

Something Thimo is well known for, in addition to his ceramics, is “sneaky art,“ an interesting activity he introduced in late 2012.

He creates art pieces and hides them around the environment he visits and encourages the natural human trend to collect or search for things, and proposes those interested to find them through a series of clues provided on his Facebook page.

Here at Altos de Chavón, they were exactly 30 pieces of art placed all around the village so that the residents find them and share them with Thimo on his Facebook page. There are a bunch still to be found and he will be providing clues until this Saturday, December 19th.

Photo courtesy of our friend Juan Giha facebook page, who we have spoted roaming around the village of Altos de Chavón looking for rakú!

Here are some of the clues he has given out in his page for the Altos de Chavón residents:

   

We encourage everyone to follow the clues given by Thimo and go explore Altos de Chavón! Look for the wonderful artwork by this great artist; it’s a fun activity the whole family can participate in, and in addition to having a great scavenger hunt, you’ll go home with your very on special piece rakú… if you find one!

— Photos courtesy of Diosnedis Almonte from Grupo Michelli.