JIAN 间

Shanghai, China

This ceramic piece is conceived as a block excavated from the ground. Emerged out of a pit fire, this object invites the user to participate in a ritual of scent. The block is gently bent from the two ends, forming a crevice at the center to receive the essential oil. Fired in low temperatures, the clay can absorb oil and gently diffuses the smell. The sedimentation of earth is evoked through the subtle grooves layered on the sides. The grainy texture entices the user to hold and touch the piece, like embracing a chunk of earth, consoling people physically and spiritually.

*This project is commissioned by OPEN OBJECT, a design-focused ceramic brand based in China. Established in 2017, OPEN OBJECT re-interprets the notion of "Chinese ceramics” by integrating modernist design principles with meticulous craftsmanship. OPEN OBJECT seeks the abstract quality of simple forms and the timeless beauty of well-balanced proportions.

仿佛是从大地中挖掘出一块土，这件陶瓷作品谦逊地邀请着使用者参与一场香氛仪式。陶块的两端轻轻弯曲，在力的作用下，土块的中心形成一个凹陷，以来承载香氛精油。先经过低温烧制，定型的粘土便可吸收精油并轻缓的扩散气味。坑烧在其表面烙下自然印记，陶瓷壁上层层叠叠的细微凹槽使人联想到沉淀的泥土。颗粒状的纹理引导着使用者去触摸，就像拥抱着一大块泥土，通过与自然连接给人以身体和精神上的慰藉。

*这是一件由OPEN OBJECT委托的设计。OPEN OBJECT是一个诞生于2017年的中国陶瓷设计品牌，通过融合现代主义风格与现有陶瓷材料技艺，重新诠释“中国陶瓷”这个既有概念。OPEN OBJECT寻求简单的形态与比例，力图抓住永恒、均衡之美。

Client: Open Object
Location: Shanghai, China
Completion: 2023.10
Design Scope: Product Design
Designer: Josh Ren
Photos: Open Object