a new start

Lately I visited Gordon Baldwin’s exhibition and joined Jackie Lunn’s felt workshop.

It was rather luxurious and relaxed time that I haven’t had for a long time, without thinking about the assignment in the back of my head! Great feeling. Good break. Totally refleshed. Now back to work in the studio. A new start has just begun. xm

BA Final Show is up and running!

A three year madness of juggling degree study and work has finally come to an end. The BA Final Show last night was absolutely brilliant with lots of people turning up. Thank you for those who came along (some came quite a long way so thank you!) and it was lovely to see you all. Here are images of my work prior to the opening night. Hope you enjoy! 

I have displayed three themed pieces. 

Firstly my hand-thrown porcelain lights and collage, The Light of Hope. 

The Light of Hope

Since Japan’s earthquake and Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, my mind kept coming back to the issue of the devastation and struggle to recovery. I wanted to reflect through my work, how to send my message to the people over here as well as to the next generation in Japan. The application of collage was aimed to raise awareness but in a positive way to strive toward the future. (You can see the process here) The detail of light indicates thousand of tear drops shed last year echoing the typographical message behind. Alongside with this display, I have introduced my forthcoming fundraising HELP JAPAN PROJECT 2, which will be starting from this blog soon. (the previous one can be viewed on a video from here)

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Next display is Mazekoze, my newest series of thrown and hand-built tableware. 

mazekoze

I worked on this for quite a long time, particularly researching and testing a huge number of glazes to get this opacity, texture and colours, without relying on commercial colourants but purely natural oxides. Mazekoze means “mixing up” in Japanese, which I focused on the sense of joy by mixing different shapes, sizes, surface design and colours as if they can create new patterns on the table. Also in order to present my view point of domestic ware, I have provided promotional posters in screen print and portfolio. (you can see the process here) Hope people can enjoy domestic ware more!?

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Finally my porcelain lilypad installation. These were showcased back in February elsewhere. (you can view more here)

The show is up until 20th June. If you’re coming to Yorkshire, please do call at Harrogate College. xm 

final show prep #2

Doodle. Cook. Style and Shoot. These activities are fun but time consuming. Hopefully it would be worth having this promotional portfolio done to go with my display. 2 days to go!  xm

final show prep #1

It’s been busy preparing for the final show this week. I have provided three series of work and these images are one of them… 

The show starts next Monday. If you are local and would like to come for the open night, please contact me. I will email you an invite. xm 

keep calm (if you can)

Are you calm and collective? I am not and was certainly not last night. 

The final show is only a week away and I was about to do last firing… then a kiln element has snapped whilst I was stupidly trying to fix it! 

OH NO, NOT NOW! (not now, not now, not now….. (echoing) 

Could not get through to the kiln man in the evening or no time to carry fragile glazed work to college, and show prep is next week... so I just panicked. Never touch the element. I then remembered that someone told me so a long ago... After some time of manic period, found this useful site (here) and managed to fix it temporarily. Yet having concerned of the accuracy of the temperature when firing with this state, had to ring the kiln man today for his advice. Back home from work, managed to pack the kiln and on baking now with fingers crossed. Phew...

Since my neighbours must have heard my scream so much last night, I can't no longer hide my nature. That famous slogan has to be altered. Thank god for vanilla slice, my fav sweet darling helps me keep calm and stable!? xm

grey and ochre

final show prep… nearly there xm 

smile maker of the week #6

It’s been a while to show my 'smile maker of the week' series here, but this is so worth waiting. Beautiful Blackbird and Rose Nest print by Angela Harding. (Thank you so much Angela!) This print is one of the limited special edition of 100 that Angela kindly offered to Country Living magazine readers. The current issue features an article about her work and studio, which is also a joy to see! Whether you are birdie-minded person (like me!) or not, do pop over to Angela’s world here. It will make your heart sing for sure. x m 

Lilypad gone to the show and back home with a pair of blackbirds

BCTF is always overwhelming having a mixture of excitement, nerves and fatigue. Nevertheless, thanks to all the visitors to our stand, I have received many positive comments from galleries, which I must follow up soon. 

The show is good opportunity to meet artists in person too. Here are wonderful people who I met at the show. Phiona Richards creates amazing paper sculptures and jewellery out of books. Samantha Robinson’s unique porcelain work are so tiny and adorable. (click their name to view the site) They were both very energetic and great to speak to. It was lovely to meet you both. Today was ended with a bit of hunting goodies, including these gorgeous glass earrings handmade by Catherine Keenan. So ace to see you again, Catherine. And must not forget, always a joy to see Adam Frew’s work. xm 

BCTF

Some of my lilypads will be showcased at BCTF from 15th to 17th April at Yorkshire Show Ground, Harrogate. For more info, please click here. (see Harrogate College stand 177) xm 

April

It has started with the summer-like scorching hot days followed by snow. What’s going on? Cannot pack up my woolly jumper yet. Nevertheless, seeing those tulips from our garden blooming so big makes me feel it is April. Which means that the deadline of my final assignment is creeping up. Must crack on with work. 

Have a nice Easter everyone! xm

studio view

enjoy your weekend everyone. xm

s p r i n g h a s c o m e

full of cherry blossom in front of my studio. 

new start. 

new work. 

more to come. xm

good day forward

i did a quick work at college this morning, then prepared tomorrow’s presentation smoothly in the afternoon. i picked muscari from our garden, then cooked Japanese dinner. it was rather nice day. totally opposite to the weekend just gone. kind messages have helped me. i guess all depend on my mind set. yes, i'm going to make tomorrow a good day like this, too. 

how was your day? hope it was sound to you. x m 

letter to heaven

Dear David

How are you? 

I am fine and coping somehow. 

I guess we only know how hard it is when we actually start doing things ourselves properly. 

So many learning curves in the studio. 

Glaze tests, new shapes, endless trial and error. 

Keep facing wall after wall that I fail to climb. 

I lose focus at times. 

Hearing about tremendous struggles in Japan’s recovery, 

it makes me think how small whatever I could do will be. 

I self doubt. I lose confidence. 

When I got stuck, you were at the other side of the phone, 

trying to give me advice. 

Now is the time that your support is most needed 

but I will have to just struggle. 

But that’s the way you established yourself. 

Something else that I learnt from you, so I must carry on. 

Fresh buds on the cherry tree in front of the studio. Spring is here. 

There is so much to do. 

Now I will walk alone. A long long way. One step at a time. 

Remembering to be thankful each day. xm

the light of hope

Exactly a year before today, I remembered that my mind completely lost function with the devastation in Japan. Since then, I have been thinking and participating in whatever I could do as a Japanese, including the fundraising project and visiting the town wiped out by the tsunami, which made me realise that they’re facing an unimaginable long road to recovery. 

It is vital to continue sending our love and support for those who face the hardship. It is important to keep the light of hope lit for the next generation. I believe that has to be done by us as adults. What an individual can do may be small, but together it become a big light of hope. 

Busy life has been holding me back but I have never forgotten. I will be starting again, HELP JAPAN PROJECT 2. Aiming to open this summer, with a completion of my degree. My support will be on-going. 


Please feel free to contact me if you are interested. x m