Former accountant finds his calling with ‘A Touch of Clay’

Cheah Yeow Seng has been making pottery for many years. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Way of life)

KUALA LUMPUR: Pottery studio ‘A Contact of Clay’ seems to be like some other shophouse from the skin. There isn’t a eye-catching signboard and its exterior is usually shrouded by vegetation.

Nonetheless, as soon as inside you’ll be awed by the numerous clay collectible figurines, bowls, teapots, and animal-shaped trinkets adorning the cabinets right here.

Cheah Yeow Seng, the proprietor of this lovely studio, can usually be noticed on the potter’s wheel, expertly shaping moist clay into lovely vases and bowls.

This humble Kedahan is a critically-acclaimed ceramic artist who has been working with clay because the ‘70s. He has exhibited his work throughout Asia together with Singapore, Japan, the Philippines, Korea and India.

FMT Way of life caught up with the 66-year-old simply days earlier than he flew off to China for one more exhibition.

A Contact of Clay’s cabinets are stacked with ceramics made by Cheah and his college students. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Way of life)

An accountant by career, Cheah mentioned his curiosity in pottery started in class when he was instructed to create a face masks out of clay. He loved the expertise a lot, he needed to significantly pursue his newfound love. However his mother and father objected.

“My mother and father insisted that I take accounting as a result of they didn’t assume arts was a profitable profession. And I did attempt it for a few years nevertheless it wasn’t for me, so I got here again to this,” he shared.

After educating pottery for some time, he determined to open his personal studio in Segambut in 2000.

Beneath Cheah’s professional palms, shaping a vase appears simple. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Way of life)

“The attractive factor about pottery is that everybody can interpret it in a different way, as a result of our life experiences and the way we take a look at issues differ from individual to individual.

“I wish to let my work communicate for me, so whenever you take a look at it, it’ll be capable of discuss to you and inform you the story behind it, as a substitute of me spelling it out for you,” he mentioned, smiling.

Cheah added that when it got here to pottery, it mattered little whether or not one was naturally creative or not. “Simply let the clay in your palms communicate to you and specific what’s in your thoughts. Keep in mind: artwork is subjective, there’s no proper or unsuitable.”

This small reindeer might be the cutest trinket within the studio. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Way of life)

Of all of the art work he creates from ceramics, Cheah mentioned he has a particular love for sculptures.

Nonetheless, he most popular to take a sensible view when it got here to his craft, saying: “So as to survive, I must make objects which are simple to promote.” These practical items embody plates and cups which have introduced him a gentle earnings.

In his workshops, Cheah makes use of three forms of clay: porcelain, stoneware and earthenware.

He defined that after an object has been formed from the clay, it’s positioned in one of many three kilns to be fired, a course of that may take days, relying on the temperature.

“It’s not a brief course of, so if you wish to make one thing as a present, it’s greatest to come back a month earlier than, in case you’re not glad with the end-product and must redo.”

Cheah’s daughter Thea helps out on the studio and makes cute ceramic rings. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Way of life)

Cheah additionally shared that when his children had been younger, they usually frolicked in his studio, creating something they set their hearts on.

His daughter Thea, has taken a deep curiosity in ceramics and at present helps on the studio creating her personal designs. “I do hope that she will be able to take over the enterprise in the future,” he mentioned.