Trails of the tail I

The artwork Trails of the Tail consists of raku pieces.Raku is an ancient Japanese ceramics technique in which I used hairs of a horse’s tail to finish my pieces. In this process after the firing, hairs are laid upon the hot surface of the pieces, and they burn onto the pieces leaving unique marks and imprinting patterns and textures. So these marks are referred to as trails of the tail.

The process of creating artwork is as important as the finished product. I take great care in each step, from preparing the clay to firing and glazing, cherishing each moment as an opportunity to learn and grow as an artist. Aware of the tendency to put parameters around my work of what is good or bad, I do my best to give the ideas room. It is important to pursue the clues that linger on the margin of my work. The process each new idea reveals drives me forward.

Asad Hafeez Chughtai, born in 1995 is a Lahore-based ceramic artist who graduated with honors in ceramic design from the National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore in 2022. He developed his own art with craftsmanship into a new body of work, exploring the relationship between the cultures, and their influence through ceramic art. His creative process involves a great deal of experimentation and exploration. Once he is satisfied with a design, he begins to produce it in larger quantities, carefully molding and shaping each piece by hand. He believes in the beauty of handmade objects. Creating by hand is an attempt to connect to something deeper.