About

Maud & Mabel presents ‘yAwArAkAi kArA: The Reflecting Skin’, an evocative exhibition hosted in the tranquil setting of 4 Cromwell Place. Bringing together the works of acclaimed ceramicists Akiko Hirai and Kenta Anzai, the show offers an intimate exploration of surface, substance and the interplay between strength and fragility.

The exhibition’s title, ‘yAwArAkAi kArA’ (translating to ‘soft shell’), suggests a delicate yet resilient boundary, while the subtitle, ‘The Reflecting Skin’, references the reflective interplay of light, shadow and material, drawing inspiration from Tanizaki’s ‘In Praise of Shadows’ and the emotive depths of its cinematic namesake.

Akiko Hirai, based in London, crafts ceramics that blend Japanese and British traditions with intuitive, spontaneous energy. Her textured forms evoke rawness and vitality, blurring the line between utility and art. In contrast, Kenta Anzai’s minimalist works, created in Fukushima, embody precision and refinement. Utilising urushi lacquer and a meditative process, his serene forms reveal the quiet beauty of imperfection and time’s imprint.

Curated by Maud & Mabel, the exhibition explores the concept of ‘skin’ as a metaphor for the surfaces of Hirai and Anzai’s works. Presented side by side at Cromwell Place’s Gallery 12, their contrasting approaches engage in a dialogue of texture, form and materiality. Akiko’s organic layers meet Kenta’s minimalist precision, inviting visitors to reflect on the dynamic balance of resilience and vulnerability.

Exhibition dates: Tuesday 13 – Saturday 24 May
Private view: Tuesday 13 May, 6pm – 8pm