Strata of Illusion is a sculptural work by Korean ceramic artist Jongjin Park, recipient of the 2026 LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize. The piece is constructed from thousands of sheets of tissue paper coated in porcelain slip and hand-mixed pigments. Park folds, stacks, and compresses the layers into a dense geometric mass before firing the entire structure in a kiln.
During the firing process, the paper burns away completely, leaving behind a ceramic form marked by folds, shifts, and deformations created through heat and gravity. The resulting object resembles geological strata, with compressed layers exposed across its surface.
The work explores the relationship between control and transformation within the ceramic process. Rather than carving or modeling the final form directly, Park establishes the conditions that guide its development and allows the kiln to influence the outcome.
Layered Porcelain Sculpture
Strata of Illusion Alters Tissue Paper into a Kiln-Fired Ceramic Form
Trend Themes
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Process-led Ceramics — Artists and studios are redefining ceramic value through controlled unpredictability, where heat, gravity, and material collapse become differentiating forces in premium craft objects.
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Ephemeral Material Casting — Temporary substrates such as paper, textiles, and organic matter create new pathways for producing permanent forms with unexpected textures, voids, and structural signatures.
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Geological Surface Design — Layered, strata-like aesthetics are gaining relevance across art and design as brands seek tactile visual languages that communicate time, depth, and natural transformation.
Industry Implications
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Fine Art — The fusion of experimental process and collectible objecthood expands opportunities for galleries, museums, and patrons to position material research as a central marker of artistic innovation.
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Luxury Goods — Craft-led luxury can draw from kiln-transformed surfaces and one-of-one material outcomes to deepen scarcity, provenance, and emotional resonance in high-end product narratives.
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Interior Design — Sculptural ceramic forms with compressed layered textures offer distinctive possibilities for architectural accents, collectible decor, and sensory spaces shaped by organic imperfection.