Hikaru Dorodango or simply Dorodango is an art form of Japanese origin which consists of manipulating mud mixed with water to create a shiny and perfectly smooth sphere.
Hikaru Dorodango or simply Dorodango is an art form of Japanese origin which consists in the manipulation of mud mixed with water to create a shining sphere and perfectly smooth.
In Japanese Hikaru Dorodango literally means "Make the mud shine". The mud is mixed with water and then worked for a long time and shaped into a sphere. The resulting sphere is placed in a plastic bag. Then you put it in the refrigerator for at least three or four hours.
The ball of water and mud must be perfectly spherical. It is made shiny by rubbing the surface with a soft cloth. The procedure it seems simple but in reality it takes years to perfect the technique and many hours of work to model and smooth each sphere. In particular, care must be taken not to use an excessive amount of water otherwise the compound becomes really complicated to work.
This particular art in Japan is also taught in schools thanks to the commitment of Professor Fumio Kayo, a psychologist and researcher on the importance of play for children at the Kyoto University of Education.
Kayo learned how to make mud balls in 1999 from a teacher at a Kyoto school. After hundreds of attempts to perfect her technique she tried to simplify it to be able to teach it to children easily.
Par Kayo this art is not only a fascinating pastime but also a research tool in developmental psychology. Apparently children in Japan are very fond of making mud balls but adults get the most surprising results in this case.
To understand how to make shiny spheres of water and mud look at the video. It seems to be a very relaxing activity.
Marta Albè
Fonte foto: Kyokyo
Read also:
KOKEDAMA: WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO MAKE THEM
KINTSUGI: MENDING WITH GOLD TO GIVE VALUE TO BROKEN THINGS (PHOTO)
TEMARI: HANDMADE JAPANESE SPHERES THAT IMITATE NATURE'S SHAPES AND COLORS
