KAKERA unviels anniversary sculpture made from Noto Quake pottery shards

A new art piece crafted from pottery shattered in the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake is now being displayed in the third-floor lobby of the Hyatt Centric Kanazawa. CACL’s upcycling brand KAKERA collaborated with Hyatt Centric Kanazawa and Hyatt House Kanazawa to create the sculpture, titled “KAKERA 5,” for the hotels’ fifth anniversary.

The sculpture revives the fragments of Kutani ware damaged in the earthquake, alongside off-spec white porcelain from manufacturing processes. These materials, once considered waste, have been transformed into a unique work of art.

The object measures 50 centimetres high and is composed of ceramic shards, glass bead medium, gold leaf, aluminium powder, urushi lacquer, and washi paper. The design intentionally incorporates the traditional “Kutani Gosai,” or five colours, of local Ishikawa pottery, allowing the piece to harmonise with the hotel’s interior while making its own distinct statement.

The philosophy behind the piece lies in that items once broken or discarded can find new meaning and purpose within a different context. The company believes that it is because they have become “kakera” (fragments) that infinite expression is possible, adding that the design was intended to bring each individual piece to life.

This collaboration grew from a relationship forged in the aftermath of the Noto earthquake. Hyatt Kanazawa supported a crowdfunding campaign launched by CACL to create work for artisans of Wajima lacquerware and Kutani ware affected by the disaster. The partnership deepened as hotel staff participated in volunteer activities to collect the ceramic fragments. Some of those very shards are now part of the finished sculpture.

The KAKERA brand, operated by CACL, defines itself as one that ‘uses all kinds of “fragments” left behind in the world to create various products and materials’. This project serves as a tangible example of turning debris from a tragedy into a testament to resilience and community support.