Continuance: Angelo Ooi
“Continuance” is defined as the state of remaining in existence or operation. Exploring the notion of continuance through processes and history of making pottery, the exhibition brings together both the new and old. The medium encapsulates this concept through its process and product. Tracing back to the Neolithic period, pottery has stood the test of time with works from thousands of years ago still existing today. Skills from potter to potter have been passed from generation to generation. Colour, surface, form and shape of ceramics have continued to evolve over time with the past consolidating with the new to create the now. Inspired by Chinese ceramics with its rich glazes and surfaces the series of work melds elements of the past with contemporary forms “Continuance” is on display at MARS as part of NGV Melbourne Design Week.
Continuance
My name in Chinese is 黄金龙 which translated to English is Golden Dragon. A few years ago, I was asked by one of my lecturers to make a piece of pottery that represented me in a vessel. It was a concept that I was never able to materialise until I found this glaze and technique of building with clay. Golden Dragon represents my deep passion for ceramics, forever burning inside me. My whole life revolves around clay, I study ceramics, teach ceramics and make ceramics. When I first saw this glaze emerge from the kiln, I immediately knew that I had to create this piece. Its presence and fiery nature of the iron tin glaze perfectly reflected my ambition to push the limits of the medium. The texture of the dragon scales allowed the glaze to form rivulets as it pooled in the crevices and ran down the piece to imitate flames. Building on such a large scale required a much more substantial amount of physical energy to build this piece. Each layer was coiled, beaten into a large rectangular block and attached to the previous layer before being thrown on the wheel to shape the piece. As someone who likes to keep active, I loved the challenge and physicality involved in building large scale.
Clay is such a versatile and tactile medium. Encompassing motions displays the different aspects and states of clay capturing its fluidity, texture, and movement. The soft fluid nature of clay is highlighted by the rim with its slight undulations as its folded back on the wheel. The textural nature of clay is seen through the sharp angles of faceting which cut through the glaze and the rough surface as the clay is stretched out from the interior. Centrifugal force and motion of the wheel is reflected by the slight leaning of the faceting and iron streaks in the clay as it is thrown on the wheel. Highlighting these properties is the Shino glaze and its thickness sensitive quality, shifting from a toasty orange when thin, to a pale white with crackles when thick. Pale greys and blacks are a result of soda ash accumulating to cause carbon trapping.
Facets explores the different sides and characters of architecture. Inspired by city skylines and skyscrapers, the work embodies tall angular forms with sharp edges. As you walk around the work the interpretation and perception of the piece changes significantly, different aspects are revealed as the field of view shifts playing on light, shadow, and form. The personalities of the work are hidden and/or shown as the curvatures of the form reveal different faces. How the pair of pieces is placed in space changes the relationship between the two vessels, communicating in their own distinct ways.
- Angelo Ooi
