Pop Japan

The Japanese know how to form something exquisite from mud.

Hikaru dorodango, literally shiny mud dumpling, is a Japanese art form where the artist would mix soil and water, and mold into perfect spheres. It first started out as a traditional pastime for schoolchildren, but was then developed into an intricate process. Different types of soil produce different types of textures. 

The core of the ball is made of mud shaped into a sphere by hand. It should be as round as possible. After leaving it to dry, sifted soil is added to create the crust. The finer the grains, the smoother and shinier the surface. Cloth can be used to gently polish the surface. Though it is a thing of beauty, it is also very fragile. It is also takes a long and methodical process that takes a lot of patience and focus.  

Photo by Ikallebob. Licensed under Creative Commons. 

Tags: Others, Japanese art form, molding, mud, clay, Hikari Dorodango, shiny dumpling, tradition, traditional pastime