Ceramics Conversations IV: Pottery spaces from woodkiln to webshop

As more land is allocated to housing and rental rates increase multifold, the affordability of arts spaces and lack of space for the craft of clay-building have become contentious issues.

The fourth edition of Ceramics Conversations explores the alternative spaces in which pottery making and selling have proliferated, and how artists have kickstarted innovative ventures in land-scarce Singapore.

Guest speakers include Singaporean artists Abraham Ling, Robert Min Chen, Shayne Phua and Ummu Nabilah. The session is moderated by Dr Pow Jun Kai.

About the speakers

Shayne Phua uses clay to tell stories and examine everyday realities. Her ceramic works draw on history, myth and literature to reflect on the world around her. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Communication Design from The Glasgow School of Art, Singapore, and has exhibited in Berlin, Guldagergaard, Paris, Bangkok and Singapore.

Abraham Ling developed his own reduction firing technology, ‘Aquagama’, within a year of solitary exploration. Guided by nature and shaped by his journeys through vanishing cultures, he works with wild clay and reclaimed earth from Singapore, shaping each of his artworks entirely and sustainably by hand.

Ummu Nabilah is a ceramics artist who graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 2016 with a Diploma in Fine Arts and has been practicing ceramics since. She runs Ummuramics, a brand which focus mainly on dinnerware. Her works are known for their elaborate colour and whimsy. She aims to make art functional for everyone.

Robert Min Chen is a visual artist, designer, sculptor, potter and art educator with nearly four decades of professional experience. His artistic excellence and achievements include award-winning and iconic large-scale public sculptures which grace various public institutions. 

As the founder and principal artist of Studio MC and Bethel Pottery, he is much sought after as a coach and speaker with innumerable notable commissions and engagements.