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Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul, South Korea
Pumpkin
This teapot was inspired by ancient Chinese and Korean celadons which uses the shape of gourds or pumpkins to inspire the design of teapots and lidded jars. This teapot was made with the whitest porcelain and blue celadon glaze. Pumpkin is currently in a private collection.
Blueberry
The name of this vase is "blueberry". The glaze is actually a blend of two distinctly different shades ("Eye's Green" and "Chun") that combined to produce this beautiful blue color. Blueberry's currently lives with someone who loves him very much and shares his recent photos with me regularly. As you can see, he is working hard.
Dragon Gate
This vase is inspired by the story of the dragon gate, an ancient lore about the origins of dragons. On this vase, the fish is traveling up the waterfall alone. When she reaches the top where the dragon gate stands, she will transform into a powerful dragon. The pine tree along the way is a symbol of strength and portends a successful journey. This vase is currently in the collection of a law student and I hope this helps bring her luck on her journey. On the back of this vase is a design of swirling incense smoke, symbolizing the prayers of her parents, her family and her ancestors. There are also a pair of bats which are also symbols of good fortune in Chinese culture. Porcelain is a delicate material and in high temperature, it sometimes slumps. Though the shape of this one is not quite uniform, the carving on this is intricate. I studied many paintings, both Chinese and Japanese to help be conceptualize the image of the waterfall. I let the shape of the vase create the illusion of a slipper slope. It looks like, at any moment, the little fish will fall off and be dashed in the rapids below. But, as you can see, the fish is strong and I believe it will reach the dragon gate. It is the master of it's own fate.
Dragon Watching
This piece belongs to the "Dragon Watching" series and inspired by a whale watching trip in the Monterey Bay. This dragon is playing in the clouds. This piece is currently in a private collection.
Dragon Gate
Sometimes I explore a specfic theme in different ways. This piece is another one that was inspired by the legend of the dragon gate. The dragon gate sits on top of magical waterfall. Only a fish that was strong and brave enough to endure the trek from the bottom of the crashing waves to reach the top will pass through the dragon gate to become a dragon. This piece is in a private collection.
New Heaven and Earth
When I went to visit my friend in Shanghai, I stayed in her apartment in the Xin Tien Di neighborhood. Xin Tien Di translates into New Heaven and Earth, a very optimistic sentiment for a bright future . This neighborhood is very vibrant. There are a lot of very good restaurants, movie theaters, and a lot of shops featuring both Western and Eastern brands. (I lived across the street from Din Tai Fun and Lululemon and down the street is Peets Coffee.). I can not say enough good things about Shanghai.
When I came back to San Francisco I carved this vase with clouds, mountains and the waves of an ocean on the bottom.
Moon Jar
The Moon Jar is the iconic Korean ceramic art form. Originally utilitarian in its origin and usually quite large, it is prized for its simple form and the calm clarity of its white glaze. Inspired by the pieces in the Asian Art Museum and the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, I created a miniature version of the Moon Jar and gave this piece and another one like it to a friend of mine who went on an adventure with me to Korea.
Summer Garden
The clay that made this pot is a white clay with a little hint of sand color. It gave this piece a rustic look. The green celadon glaze reacted to the texture of the pot underneath and emphasized the texture of the carving. The green glaze pooled in the carved ridges, leaving the elevated areas lighter in color. The flower is a peony, which is the queen of late spring and early summer. This flower is a powerful symbol in Chinese art. The peony represents wealth, prosperity and feminine beauty, everything that describes its current owner. The reverse of this vase is a carving of a lotus flower, which is a strong symbol of moral strength and integrity, another two words that describe its current owner well.
Folds
In this piece, I wanted to use the clay to explore the form of folds. When a part of the clay is folded, another side caves in and folds inward. The reason why this piece was glazed in white is because I wanted the outstanding feature to be the shape, not the color. This piece now belongs to a good friend.
In my own collection
Leaves of Grass
This vase is inspired by the title of Walt Whitman's collection of poems that celebrates individuality and the voice of the common person. This vase is also inspired by the art nouveau design of the French glassmaker Lalique. In 1912, Lalique designed a heart shaped glass vase with grasshoppers sitting on the blades. The Lalique design was, in turn, inspired by Japanese art that shaped the European aesthetics of the Art Nouveau movement.
It is one of my favorite pieces and it will remain with me. I have since created other versions of this vase but this original will always be my favorite.
Dragon Pearl
This ginger jar has the shape of a dragon, the symbol of power. He is looking for the flaming orb, the dragon pearl, which is just beyond is current reach on the other side of the jar. The dragon pearl represents enlightenment and wisdom, something that any creature with so much power will need.
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