IRMA (hippopotame femelle)

'Irma (female hippopotamus)' is a ceramic raku, measuring 70 x 40 x 37 cm. It presents the whole animal. The raku sculpture represents the texture of the animal’s skin and thus gives this realistic dimension. In addition, this realism is due to the many details present; the corpulence, the fine lines of the skin, including the facial features. The numerous reliefs of the sculpture are amazing. Also, the animal looks towards the horizon, as if it were represented in its natural environment. This sculpture is depicted in cold tones unlike 'Little Irma', depicted in pink tones. It is a unique naturalist sculpture.

Raku is a complex enamelling technique that requires several firings. The first cooking is at 980°, then there is the enamelling and a second cooking which is faster at 980°. In addition, at the end of the second firing the sculpture is then immersed in sawdust. The latter gives rise to a black smoke that will allow the cracking of enamel and thus give the various roughnesses of the work and the relief. Boucard Tania is an artist mastering this technique perfectly which allows this impressive result concerning the animals she represents.