Raising, chasing, casting, forging, reticulation, repousse . . . even the terms that describe metalworking can be daunting to the novice, while the processes themselves prove metal to be one of the most difficult materials to tame. But what if you had a malleable metal substance that would take shape right in your hands without any training or tools? Enter "silver clay."

Made of silver powder, water and a binding agent, silver clay feels like refined Play-Doh to the touch and is almost as easy to mold. No hammering, heating or casting is required. It can be fashioned into myriad shapes in minutes, or even moistened to make a paste that can be used to embellish the surfaces of other materials. Just like clay used in ceramics, silver clay hardens when heated to high temperatures, and the firing process rids it of impurities to yield solid forms that are 99 percent silver. To the purist, using a material like this might be perceived as "cheating," but to the novice it is a godsend that allows almost immediate mastery of a demanding material.

Designer Rie Nagumo has known the secret of silver clay since it came on the market over 15 years ago. She worked for the company that developed the material and was one of the first artists to put it to use, but she is just now discovering its true potential through the curation of Jun-Gin Collection, a group exhibition that gathers dozens of creators across multiple genres. Now in its second year, Jun-Gin Collection 2010 will be showing from April 30 to May 2 at the Fukui Aoyama 291 Gallery in Omotesando.