Ceramic artist bares his soul

Cheah (left) showing Chai and his brother, Yew Saik, the ceramics on display at his ‘My Clay Soul‘ exhibition.

AT THE “My Clay Soul – Cheah Yeow Seng Ceramic Art Exhibition”, the exhibits only have a simple label denoting the name of the series without any descriptions.

This is because Cheah Yeow Seng wants guests to interpret the artwork in their own way without imposing his views on them.

“If I include a description, you may be confined within my words without developing your own thoughts about it and when you buy it, you may only have my ideas about it without your own.

“It is not just an art piece that you bought, you have to live with it and have your own interpretation of it,” said Yeow Seng.

He was speaking after the opening ceremony of his first solo exhibition, where more than 100 pieces of his works accumulated over 30 years are on display.

The Nyonya figurine is one of the key series in the exhibition but Yeow Seng prefers making simple ceramic art.

“I prefer to retain the original state of the clay without adding other mixtures. It started when a local fashion designer commissioned me to design something based on his designs and from there I was inspired to produce more art pieces,” he said.

Some of the figurines, he said, were of pregnant women as he believed it symbolised the continuation of life.

Aside from having the artistic skills and techniques, Yeow Seng believes that it is also important to be positive and have the right mindset when making ceramics.

“Unlike drawing, we do not know the end result until we open the kiln to retrieve the art piece.

“Hence, I will always make a wish that my artwork will turn out as I had hoped when I place it into the kiln, which I’ve been using for over 30 years,” he said.

After this, Yeow Seng will be participating in a bicentennial exhibition in South Korea along with other artists.

He spent two weeks there in April, making pottery using local clay. The finished products will be exhibited in October in Yeoju (in South Korea’s Gyeonggi province), which is known for its ceramics.

Yeow Seng will often use local clay found in whichever country he is in to exhibit his ceramics but he is most proud of Malaysian clay.

“Ceramics made from our local clay is weather and temperature resistant.

“A German friend told me that Malaysia has the best clay but it is not put to good use and sold dirt cheap,” he said.

Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) treasurer-general Chai Koh Pong said this was the first ceramic art exhibition that SGM has organised since its inception in 2001.

“It is a good opportunity for Malaysians to be able to view the hundred pieces of exquisite ceramics made from Malaysian clay that Cheah has produced,” he said.

In his opening speech, renowned artist and Kuala Lumpur College of Art founder Chew Yew Saik said his brother, Yeow Seng, has spent almost 40 years playing with clay.

“In this exhibition hall, you can witness that his time has not been wasted,” he added.

Yew Saik said art, especially ceramic art, has never been an easy subject as most people think.

“It is a combination of physical hard work, involving knowledge of chemistry for the glazing and techniques for kiln firing.

“A potter’s life is always full of surprises and joy every time he opens the kiln to inspect his works of love,” he said.

The exhibition is ongoing until June 18, from 11am to 5pm (closed on Mondays) at the Soka Exhibition Hall, in Wisma Kebudayaan SGM at 243, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Admission is free.

Guided tours are available on Saturdays and Sundays. For bookings, call Lim Ee Vee on 03-2144 8686 between 9am and 5pm from Tuesday to Friday. Prior appointment is required for groups with more than 10 people.

In conjunction with this exhibition, SGM will have an art programme – “The Making of Clay Art – A demonstration by Cheah Yeow Seng” on June 10 and 17, from 3pm to 4:15pm at the hall.