Journal of ideas, inspiration, process



1. Vases

‘Chiaroscuro’- an effect of contrasted light and shadow

This is a series of vases coated with white slip on the outside and satin black finish on the inside.


I draw inspiration from an italian term ‘chiaroscuro’, the constract of light and shadow to create an ambience of depth and volume. This term is often used to analyse Caravaggio’s Baroque art. Caravaggio‘s paintings show elements of chiaroscuro to create a three dimensional deception on a two dimensional surface, often to depict an intense, dramatic scene.

Other artists such as Giogio Morandi innovated the effect of chiaroscuro. For Morandi, the delusional sense of three dimensional space on painting was no longer the priority. His controlled system of crosshatching etching produced a linear composition and shades of colours. Blocks of shades around the hollow-out light-coloured shapes concentrate your gaze purely on the everyday objects. Through this, Morandi’s paintings are often perceived as serene as the tones in his colour blocks bring both contrast and harmony. The respect for daily objects such as vases and bottles is in itself an observation of how our mandane life is translated into these still life. It’s an impression of things, like our memory.



The white coat on the ceramics act as the light. This contrasts with the satin black interior of the vases and further accentuates the depth inside the vases. For some vases, I have kept the front and back sides unglaze in order to add on extra texture while the rear sides are matt, semi-glossy.


Through the effect of “chiaroscuro”, I hope the vases sit in a place like a calm painting, mimicking Morandi’s art and conveying the simple joy of ceramics.








2. Tableware

‘Mingei’ - Japanese word for ‘folk craft’ or ‘folk art’