NEW | Lola Moreau
Enjoy a Japanese breakfast with Lola Moreau's tableware
The tableware by French ceramic artist Lola Moreau has arrived. We requested items that would blend in with a Japanese breakfast table. The pieces, hand-formed for a soft impression, each have unique textures that irresistibly make you want to find your favorite one.
Lola Moreau is a ceramic artist with a studio in a quiet alley near Place de la Bastille in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. From a young age, she spent much time in her father's studio, where he was a skilled artisan in textiles. Growing up around her father's magical creations nurtured her artistic sensibility. Although initially working in web and visual content, her path shifted towards ceramics after she began attending night classes. Captivated by the art, Lola, along with a friend who is also a writer, opened a studio, and ceramics quickly became the centerpiece of her life.
Her creations feature soft shapes that convey the movement and feel of her hands, combined with the visual appeal she has developed over the years. They are both functional and decorative. Her strong desire to create objects that look beautiful on their own, whether on a table or a shelf, is vividly reflected in her work.。
This time, inspired by a Japanese breakfast, she crafted rice bowls, small cups (yunomi), and small plates for us. The rice bowl, set against the soft morning light, features a tranquil color palette, is thick and has a moderate weight, providing a comfortable fit and a pleasant touch with its wavy surface. Arranging these bowls alongside the matching small cups and plates for side dishes completes a delightful morning scene.
Lola's hand-formed tableware, even within the same style, each piece has a unique shape, size, and weight, offering a warmth distinct from wheel-thrown pottery. It's fascinating to consider that just as our hand sizes vary individually, one of the charms of her work is being able to choose the piece that fits one's hand the best.
The glaze caught my eye unexpectedly. It made me wonder if it might be inspired by Mount Fuji, stirring my imagination. For Lola, the approach to glaze is the initial step in her creative process. Normally, glazing occurs just before the final firing in the production process, but for her, the transformations of the glaze are crucial for expressing her intentions. She experiments with various combinations of clay and firing temperatures right from the start, seeking her answers within the endless possibilities these elements bring. Each piece has a unique glaze expression, each with its own captivating charm.
Lola recently returned from her first trip to Japan and was so taken with the country that she started looking for her next ticket as soon as she got home. Her social media is filled with everyday scenes from Japan, captured during her stay, allowing us to glimpse the quintessential Japanese qualities that we often overlook through her photography. The attention to detail and delicate sensibilities she encountered in Japan resonate with her artistic goals in ceramics, and seem to be providing significant inspiration for her future creative endeavors. We feel a closer affinity to Lola for her appreciation of Japan, and her tableware has become a favorite of ours as well.
