July 2011
International Ceramics Festival
At rhe beginning of July I attended the International Ceramics Festival in Aberystwyth in Wales.
What an AMAZING event! There were so many potters and ceramicists there with great demonstrations and talks to attend - it was hard to choose what to see!
What most impressed me was the generosity of world-renowned experts sharing their knowledge and techniques with delegates.
It was a pleasure and privilege to talk with some of the 'big names' in the ceramics world, as well as to meet other enthusiastic and passionate makers.
What an AMAZING event! There were so many potters and ceramicists there with great demonstrations and talks to attend - it was hard to choose what to see!
What most impressed me was the generosity of world-renowned experts sharing their knowledge and techniques with delegates.
It was a pleasure and privilege to talk with some of the 'big names' in the ceramics world, as well as to meet other enthusiastic and passionate makers.
Festival highlights
Dylan Bowen
Among those I was lucky enough to meet were Mick Morgan (makes large sculptural forms as well as detailed smaller scale raku fired works, Ruthanne Tudball (has published work on soda glazes, also throws clay, works on it to create flowing sinuous yet functional work) Dylan Bowen (who makes exiting free form pieces with abstract, spontaneous slip decoration)
Work by Dylan Bowen
Ceramic Artists
Kate Malone (and Boo the dog!)
Kate Malone makes stunning large-scale pieces by hand, as well as public projects, and has a fascination for crystalline glazes - her glaze tests were a piece of art themselves...
glaze tessts by Kate Malone
Hyang Jong Oh's large pot
I was blown away by the work of Hyang Jong Oh and Shigemasa Higashida who brought their exciting technical expertise to the Festival and demonstrated their ability and passion so beautifully - it made me want to run away to Korea and study with Mr Oh in his ex-primary school studio - especially when he invited Dylan Bowen (who was demonstrating at the same time as him) to put the first slip decoration on his huge pot!
Shigemasa HIgeshida
It will take a while to assimilate all that I saw and heard at the festival - I'm interested to see what percolates down and into my work! Watch this space!
Next month I'm away to China, Singapore and Hong Kong.. so I'll be looking for opprtunities to get some 'clay time' in amongst the corporate work!
Next month I'm away to China, Singapore and Hong Kong.. so I'll be looking for opprtunities to get some 'clay time' in amongst the corporate work!
Spring 2011 trip to Nanfeng Kiln, Foshan, China
entrance to the Nanfeng Dragon Kilns and village
One of the perks of my corporate job is that it enables me to travel to places that often have wonderful ceramics traditions.
As I was free for a weekend in Guangzhou, I was able to travel to the Nanfeng Dragon Kilns in Foshan and visit these kilns that are over 500 years old. Incredibly, they are still regularly fired!
Most of the work is saggar-fired and the area is well known for detailed figurative pieces.
I was in seventh heaven - and things got even better when Shimmer, who worked at the historic site, acted as impromptu interpreter, and took me to meet some of the artists working on the site and talk to them about their work.
It was very hard to come back down to earth on Monday morning!
As I was free for a weekend in Guangzhou, I was able to travel to the Nanfeng Dragon Kilns in Foshan and visit these kilns that are over 500 years old. Incredibly, they are still regularly fired!
Most of the work is saggar-fired and the area is well known for detailed figurative pieces.
I was in seventh heaven - and things got even better when Shimmer, who worked at the historic site, acted as impromptu interpreter, and took me to meet some of the artists working on the site and talk to them about their work.
It was very hard to come back down to earth on Monday morning!
the Dragon Kiln - the hill allows an updraft for the wood fire
the deity beside the kilns - I love his fire-y strength
beside one of the kilns, green ware and saggars wait for firing
artists' studios line both sides of this street
September 2010 - UK studio
I am so pleased and happy!
On arrival back in the UK, I contacted AW, who had taught me my A Level in Ceramics. I asked if she knew of anyone who might be able to share their workspace and kiln with me, and she invited me to visit to talk it over.
That was two weeks ago. I am now AW"s apprentice/technician. I'm working with AW on recycling and testing different clays, sorting out the studio space to accomodate both of us, and my role may also soon include some teaching.
I am THRILLED to be learning from AW - she knows her craft inside and out and is generous with her knowledge PLUS the space is great! Lots of natural light and air, two kilns, different clays to explore AND.... a DOG!
I'll put on some more photographs when I can!
On arrival back in the UK, I contacted AW, who had taught me my A Level in Ceramics. I asked if she knew of anyone who might be able to share their workspace and kiln with me, and she invited me to visit to talk it over.
That was two weeks ago. I am now AW"s apprentice/technician. I'm working with AW on recycling and testing different clays, sorting out the studio space to accomodate both of us, and my role may also soon include some teaching.
I am THRILLED to be learning from AW - she knows her craft inside and out and is generous with her knowledge PLUS the space is great! Lots of natural light and air, two kilns, different clays to explore AND.... a DOG!
I'll put on some more photographs when I can!
September 2010 - changes, changes
After some years of sharing the studio space at Contemporary Clay Studios on Bali Lane with Thomas and Huimin - I've now left Singapore and come to live in the UK.
Thomas and Huimin were VITAL elements for the excellent time I had living in Singapore - they welcomed me not only into their work space, and we became good friends.
Coincidence is a strange phenomenom, and we found that all of us were coming to a similar change in our lives at the same point; Thomas and Huimin would be leaving Singapore in September and going to university to study for their MAs, and I was needing to return to the UK.
Settling things up at the studio was very emotional - it's never easy for me to close up a place that has played so much of a role in my life: it didn't help that there was a VERY quick turnaround from the space being a studio into its next incarnation as a restaurant/bar.
As a result of the turbulence of moving my life to another country, I arrived in the UK feeling not only lost, but without any anchor - I don't think one ever feels 'ready' for the impact of such an all-encompassing change - but thought I would ask around to see if I could find anything resembling the set-up I found at Bali Lane.
It was a tough challenge - how could anything match the experience there, here?!
I was mourning the loss of the space, the people and even Jo, Thomas' dog - it was a tough act to follow!
Thomas and Huimin were VITAL elements for the excellent time I had living in Singapore - they welcomed me not only into their work space, and we became good friends.
Coincidence is a strange phenomenom, and we found that all of us were coming to a similar change in our lives at the same point; Thomas and Huimin would be leaving Singapore in September and going to university to study for their MAs, and I was needing to return to the UK.
Settling things up at the studio was very emotional - it's never easy for me to close up a place that has played so much of a role in my life: it didn't help that there was a VERY quick turnaround from the space being a studio into its next incarnation as a restaurant/bar.
As a result of the turbulence of moving my life to another country, I arrived in the UK feeling not only lost, but without any anchor - I don't think one ever feels 'ready' for the impact of such an all-encompassing change - but thought I would ask around to see if I could find anything resembling the set-up I found at Bali Lane.
It was a tough challenge - how could anything match the experience there, here?!
I was mourning the loss of the space, the people and even Jo, Thomas' dog - it was a tough act to follow!
July 2010 - Largest Sentinel yet!
Thanks to my ceramicist friends, I have been encouraged (and successful!!) in making my largest ever sentinel.
In unglazed white raku clay, the piece is about 120cm and is currently in a box in a container on a ship heading to the UK - alas, after 5 years in Singapore I am needing to return for a while.
I hope I'll be lucky enough to get a studio set-up similar to the one I've enjoyed at Bali Lane, although I will miss the place terribly - and Huimin and Thomas even more.
In unglazed white raku clay, the piece is about 120cm and is currently in a box in a container on a ship heading to the UK - alas, after 5 years in Singapore I am needing to return for a while.
I hope I'll be lucky enough to get a studio set-up similar to the one I've enjoyed at Bali Lane, although I will miss the place terribly - and Huimin and Thomas even more.
Form + Reform
My work at the Form + Reform exhibition.
I was happy to be in the company of artists whose work I really admire: Thomas Cheong, Nelson Lim and Jason Lim to name but three.
Sales weren't as spectacular as in 2008, but I did sell one of the Anemoi figures, and Focus from the Innerspace series.
I was happy to be in the company of artists whose work I really admire: Thomas Cheong, Nelson Lim and Jason Lim to name but three.
Sales weren't as spectacular as in 2008, but I did sell one of the Anemoi figures, and Focus from the Innerspace series.
Form + Reform Exhibition, Singapore July 2009
I'm very excited to report that all the seven works I submitted for the Form + Reform exhibition at the Ngee Ann Cultural Centre have been accepted!
The exhibition opens on the evening of 24th July and runs until the 11th August. It's a selling exhibition, and there are always some beautiful works available - go early to avoid disappointment if you like to buy art.
It's also an opportunity to see works on this website in 3D!
I'll post when I know more about other featured artists.
The exhibition opens on the evening of 24th July and runs until the 11th August. It's a selling exhibition, and there are always some beautiful works available - go early to avoid disappointment if you like to buy art.
It's also an opportunity to see works on this website in 3D!
I'll post when I know more about other featured artists.
2008 - The Three Elements: Ngee Ann Cultural Centre, Singapore
In 2008, I was honoured to be a featured artist at the Ngee Ann Cultural Centre annual 3D show: The Three Elements.
Two of the sentinel figures and three pieces from the all a dance series were shown at the exhibition held at the Ngee Ann Cultural Centre on Tank Road, Singapore.
All five pieces were sold, three to the Ngee Ann Kongsi, and two to a private buyer.
I was very pleased to have my work in the same room as one of Singapore's most illustrious sculptors, Dr Ng Eng Teng, and I'm thrilled that my work is in the permanent collection of an such organisation - it's a real privilege.
I have been invited back this year - so watch this space!
Two of the sentinel figures and three pieces from the all a dance series were shown at the exhibition held at the Ngee Ann Cultural Centre on Tank Road, Singapore.
All five pieces were sold, three to the Ngee Ann Kongsi, and two to a private buyer.
I was very pleased to have my work in the same room as one of Singapore's most illustrious sculptors, Dr Ng Eng Teng, and I'm thrilled that my work is in the permanent collection of an such organisation - it's a real privilege.
I have been invited back this year - so watch this space!
Dr Lee Boon Yang, Singapore's Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts was Guest of Honour at the Three Elements exhibition opening, on 18th July 2008.
