King Houndekpinkou
Connecting cultures through clay
- King is a multicultural artisan
- His craftsmanship links Benin and Japan
- He uses his creativity to express topics close to his heart
With genuine enthusiasm, King Houndekpinkou describes his early passion for video games and how it inspired a love of Japanese culture and creativity. “Then, in 2012, I went to Japan for the first time and was encouraged to try pottery. I was soul-searching at the time, questioning what I wanted to do with my life. I ended up taking a class… and here I am!” Franco-Beninese King highlights the spiritual similarities between Benin and Japan and he now works to bring potters together from both countries. “Ceramics has become the lens through which I see life, but it also leads me to discover new things that are outside of ceramics, like Native American culture and other countries and practices,” he explains.
Interview
- What was it about pottery that hooked you?
- There is a subconscious element that comes through when using earth and clay. Working with clay awakened sleeping thoughts which must have been there but never stimulated before. Touching clay is a visceral, pleasurable experience.
- How do you approach your art?
- It was first about leisure, but my teacher (who was Japanese) took us to central France for a wood-firing project with potters from Okayama. I perceived the mystical way they approached the work, a connection to my Benin heritage and was really happy.
- What's the story behind your project Terres Jumelles?
- It’s about making connections between local potters in Benin and Japan. I go to the countries and mix the local clays together and make works. The project puts me in a position of documenting and learning while creating. It speaks to my heart.
- How do you know when something is finished?
- It’s intuitive, when it feels 'right', even if a piece is actually never finished, to be honest. At some point I stop. Also, the piece will have its own life when someone acquires it. It lives on. The clay, the glaze will still move—the piece is alive.
King Houndekpinkou is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2012
Where
King Houndekpinkou
