Austrian tile manufacturers Karak unite traditional practice and modern spirit. The digitally designed tiles are hand crafted using the Japanese firing technique - Raku. A clay mix is pressed into tile forms. A geometric pattern is applied by silkscreen. The tiles harden quickly at 1000 degrees, before being buried in sawdust where smoke creates an intense look. Glowing tiles are taken from the kiln and buried in sawdust. The effect on a surface differs every time. Colours change and fine hair cracks blacken.
Karak photography by Hanno Mackowitz.
Inspired by this feature? Enjoy a night on the tiles with smoked ceramics from Granby Workshop. Smoked in a barbeque for 12 hours, each piece is unique, its surface pattern and colour forged by exposure to smoke. Tiles are then picked from the ashes, cleaned, waxed and polished.
Image courtesy of Granby Workshop.
