HIROKO AONO - BILLSON

Brighton-based ceramicist Hiroko Aono-Billson’s work is inspired by her mother’s collection of functional Japanese ceramics and the Mingei movement, meaning “art of the people”. Her ceramics are made from earthenware terracotta clay and she uses the sgraffito technique – where a slip or glaze is applied, then scratched off to reveal the layer beneath – to create unique patterns. Hiroko’s ceramics have an effortless nature to them. Her slipware works with their lustrous and sumptuous glazes and simple repetitive but flowing patterns make for a very pleasing collection of timeless, functional tableware.

Growing up in Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four main islands, set the foundations for Hiroko's preoccupation with ceramics. As a child she would often accompany her mother on buying trips around the island.

“Pottery is integral in Japan. We have lots of amazing potteries and my mother collected many pieces. When I was little she was a great cook – she always had beautiful pots to put food in. I think that is where my love of pottery comes from. Mealtimes weren’t just about food, it was the whole process: the beautiful plates, the rice bowl, the chopsticks. All these things are part of the joy of the meal. It becomes a ceremony each time.”