To paraphrase Fabrizio De Andrè, if nothing grows from diamonds, spheres as shiny as diamonds can grow from mud. Hikaru Dorodango literally means "to make mud shine": it is a Japanese art form in which a mixture of mud and water are molded to create shiny, perfectly smooth spheres. This distinctive artistic technique was almost lost by the early part of the twenty first century. Thanks to Fumio Kayo, a lecturer in psychology at Kyoto, it was rediscovered and used to study the dynamics of play in children.
But that is not all! The Hikaru Dorodango technique conceals a much deeper message; beauty and perfection can even be extracted from “dirt”. All you need is dedication and the skilled work of an artist. No machines, technology or innovative materials: just what nature offers, worked with bare hands.
The artist Bruce Gardener is one of the most important exponents and experts in this artistic technique. His creations can take many hours of work as increasingly finer particles of “dirt” are applied to create different layers. Finally, Bruce completes his work by applying a thin layer of varnish with a cloth to add shine and brilliance to the sphere.
Despite their appearance, the Dorodango spheres remain extremely fragile and must be handled very carefully. But that is just how it should be, considering that this art form focuses on the meditative benefits deriving from the process of creation rather than the longevity of the piece itself. Put simply, making a Dorodango is good for the spirit and having to replace them is never a problem!