Community, 2023
Angelo Ooi
Community, 2023
88 vases, size variable 10cm - 32cm height
various midfire and stoneware clay oxidation and reduction fired
Work sold as entire collection, or in a grouping of 22.
Artist Statement:
I am a contemporary ceramic artist who is passionate about traditional ceramic skills of wheel throwing and glaze chemistry. My journey in ceramics first started in high school 5 years ago. The school had just bought a new pottery wheel and for some reason I was drawn to it, I didn’t even know what it was back then, but I was certain clay had to be put on it. I still remember the exact moment the wheel started spinning and I felt the clay slip through my hands. My mind tuned out all the noise around me and was calm.
My practice is technique and process driven, I continually work to improve my skills on the wheel and refining glaze chemistry to achieve brilliant surfaces. My work is inspired by my Australian and Malaysian Chinese background, in particular elegant Chinese vases and rich copper red glazes of the Xuande era. I love the tactility of clay, throwing the same form repeatedly to achieve mastery of the form. I find a calmness in the repetition of throwing knowing that each piece will continue to improve the next. Glaze chemistry also fascinates me, the variety of surfaces and textures you can achieve is alluring. Altering ratios of raw materials and colourants I continue to search for rich surfaces which tell a story.
Recently I have been obsessed with the vase form. I view each vessel(vase) that I make as a person – individual and unique. In physical form a pot is like a person with a neck, shoulders, belly, hip and foot. Utilising multiple clay bodies and reduction firing has allowed me to achieve a wide range of colours and dynamic surfaces. The resulting vessel reflects my enjoyment of the process and the characteristics of the body in ceramic form.
Angelo Ooi
Community, 2023
88 vases, size variable 10cm - 32cm height
various midfire and stoneware clay oxidation and reduction fired
Work sold as entire collection, or in a grouping of 22.
Artist Statement:
I am a contemporary ceramic artist who is passionate about traditional ceramic skills of wheel throwing and glaze chemistry. My journey in ceramics first started in high school 5 years ago. The school had just bought a new pottery wheel and for some reason I was drawn to it, I didn’t even know what it was back then, but I was certain clay had to be put on it. I still remember the exact moment the wheel started spinning and I felt the clay slip through my hands. My mind tuned out all the noise around me and was calm.
My practice is technique and process driven, I continually work to improve my skills on the wheel and refining glaze chemistry to achieve brilliant surfaces. My work is inspired by my Australian and Malaysian Chinese background, in particular elegant Chinese vases and rich copper red glazes of the Xuande era. I love the tactility of clay, throwing the same form repeatedly to achieve mastery of the form. I find a calmness in the repetition of throwing knowing that each piece will continue to improve the next. Glaze chemistry also fascinates me, the variety of surfaces and textures you can achieve is alluring. Altering ratios of raw materials and colourants I continue to search for rich surfaces which tell a story.
Recently I have been obsessed with the vase form. I view each vessel(vase) that I make as a person – individual and unique. In physical form a pot is like a person with a neck, shoulders, belly, hip and foot. Utilising multiple clay bodies and reduction firing has allowed me to achieve a wide range of colours and dynamic surfaces. The resulting vessel reflects my enjoyment of the process and the characteristics of the body in ceramic form.
Angelo Ooi
Community, 2023
88 vases, size variable 10cm - 32cm height
various midfire and stoneware clay oxidation and reduction fired
Work sold as entire collection, or in a grouping of 22.
Artist Statement:
I am a contemporary ceramic artist who is passionate about traditional ceramic skills of wheel throwing and glaze chemistry. My journey in ceramics first started in high school 5 years ago. The school had just bought a new pottery wheel and for some reason I was drawn to it, I didn’t even know what it was back then, but I was certain clay had to be put on it. I still remember the exact moment the wheel started spinning and I felt the clay slip through my hands. My mind tuned out all the noise around me and was calm.
My practice is technique and process driven, I continually work to improve my skills on the wheel and refining glaze chemistry to achieve brilliant surfaces. My work is inspired by my Australian and Malaysian Chinese background, in particular elegant Chinese vases and rich copper red glazes of the Xuande era. I love the tactility of clay, throwing the same form repeatedly to achieve mastery of the form. I find a calmness in the repetition of throwing knowing that each piece will continue to improve the next. Glaze chemistry also fascinates me, the variety of surfaces and textures you can achieve is alluring. Altering ratios of raw materials and colourants I continue to search for rich surfaces which tell a story.
Recently I have been obsessed with the vase form. I view each vessel(vase) that I make as a person – individual and unique. In physical form a pot is like a person with a neck, shoulders, belly, hip and foot. Utilising multiple clay bodies and reduction firing has allowed me to achieve a wide range of colours and dynamic surfaces. The resulting vessel reflects my enjoyment of the process and the characteristics of the body in ceramic form.
This artwork is exhibited in Bloom: West End Grad Show, West End Art Space’s inaugural graduate exhibition. Presenting the work of 11 artists from the 2023 graduating cohorts of VCA, RMIT & Monash University, this showcase aims to give emerging artists a gallery platform, and to provide an entry point into the commercial art industry.