Ceramic artists display pieces made from earthenware, stoneware and porcelain clay

CERAMIC artist and art consultant Frankie YeeVia believes that ceramics is a unique art form that is yet to be fully developed in Malaysia, and hopes to improve and promote ceramics among the local society.

“The colours used for ceramics won’t fade and the pieces can be acquired as part of a person’s art collection,” the 45-year-old said at an exhibition called In the Garden.

It features works by six ceramic artists from YeeVia Pottery Studio that are inspired by the flora, fauna and elements found in gardens.

Inspired by flowers: Khoo’s works, like this piece called `Disclosure 2’, were inspired by her study of flowers, particularly how the flowers construct themselves to entice insects to fertilise their seeds.

The works are made from earthenware, stoneware and porcelain clay, and offer an opportunity to view ceramics as an art form.

“This exhibition showcases works done by my students and me. I wanted them to get a feel of the entire process of being an artist – from learning about arts and crafts to interacting with the public,” YeeVia said.

His Journey of Cubes is a series of vessels that depict man on a journey of challenges.

Fauna as inspiration: A piece by Laubichler called `Bug No Fly’ from her collection that was inspired by the vibrant colours and varying shapes of insects and garden creatures.

The lines of life etched into the vessels describe a man’s life from the beginning to the end.

YeeVia explained that this series reflected his journey of discovering his Sino-Kadazan heritage, and depicted both masculine and feminine elements in the edges and curves respectively.

“The asymmetrical patterns on the vessel bodies contrast with the smooth swelling of the stoppers that are phallic symbols for fertility and malehood,” said the Southern Illinois University Masters of Fine Art graduate, whose concept was to create a nirvana-like setting in the garden.

Liz Joo’s My Sweet Garden collection features a little garden of tableware concept to create the feeling of having tea or dinner in the midst of nature.

“These functional tableware go by themes like lilies, leaves and water. My favourite is the waterfall series as I like the sound and shape of water flowing,” said the 42-year-old Korean, who took inspiration from the variety of Mother Nature’s shapes and colours.

“This works can be used not only to serve food and drinks, but also to enhance the taste and give pleasure to those who use them,” said the former lecturer, who combined her love for cooking and ceramics for her works.

Lim Ai Lin’s collection – The Gloria Chronicles – is a story about life’s journey and various issues that one faces in life, and is represented by a fictitious character called Gloria.

“There were three main elements I used in my works: the boat-like shape and landscapes we encounter as we travel through life, carvings to depict effects left by life’s experiences, and words like poetry and prose to verbalise what we feel as we’re grappling with issues,” she said.

The 31-year-old cited the example of a piece called Questions that queries the restrictions and rules that have been set by society, and another called Petit Bateau 1 – part of a series of boats that describes the hesitance and acceptance of going through change.

A trip to the Butterfly Garden in Kuala Lumpur was what inspired Elke Laubichler, 45, for her Encounters with Metaphoric Creatures series.

“The vibrant colours and varying shapes of the bugs and beetles I saw are metamorphosed into organic-shaped vessels that evoke the feel of warriors, pagodas and mythic creatures, while some become fanciful and bird-like.

“Certain elements the same, such as the colours and patterns, then gave my own interpretation,” said the German who picked up arts and crafts to ease her mind from her accounting work.

Niki Cheong YL turned her fascination for the winged Dipterocarp seeds into her Seeds and the City series.

“These winged seeds of hope, new life and energy fascinate me, a witness to the city’s ruthless expansion that has left little space for trees to grow.

“These pieces were mounted to look like they were floating away from the background, and look as if they are notes in a musical score.”

Khoo Gaik Sim, a full-time artist in her 50s, said her Disclosure series was inspired by her study of flowers.

“I homed in on how the flowers constructed themselves to entice insects to fertilise their seeds located at the secret centres.

“My sculptural vessels speak of this seduction of the flowers,” said Khoo, who feels that flowers are metaphors for human life.

“My works are an expression of human sexuality and how seductive life can be. On another level, these sculptures refer to the secret centres within us, and which we choose to disclose or hide.”