I'm going back to China!

After a quick count, it's been four years since Janine and I were last in Changchun...and two or three weeks ago I found out that my new sculpture designs had been accepted for the '2012 International Ceramics Symposium' at the 'China Changchun World Sculpture Conference. YEAH!

Bella is the hardest part about leaving for 4 weeks.

The last couple of months have been tough and I have been working hard to get new work finished and get everything organised before I go. I had a brilliant kiln firing last week and I have chosen a select few pieces to take with me to the 'Peoples Republic' the rest I am setting free when I get back.

I love this dude but he's too big for the plane!

Try and work out the puzzle tile in the background.

I left China last time without seeing my sculpture 'Kaituna', a 3m bronze, finished. According to my friends who have seen it complete she is waiting for me, sitting on the banks of the lake in the Changchun International Sculpture Park not far from Rodin's sculpture 'The Thinker".

Might put one of these new guys in my suitcase?

Fly away my pretty.

I am really looking forward to renewing old friendships, eating Chinese food, drinking Chinese tea, making sculpture and sharing it here with you on this blog.


I'll post some more photos soon so watch this space.

Cheers
Sam

Botany Pots - Proposal for Changchun Ceramics Symposium 2011

Concept pots for 2011 Changchun Ceramics Symposium:Proposal 1

The theme behind these pots is "My Botany Diary". I would collect flora and fauna from Changchun and imprint them onto the surface of the pots to record the journey of my discovery of Jilin Province, China.

Below are examples of what the pots would look like. These are pictures of unfinished pots - not yet glazed or fired. All pots are 500mm high x 300mm diameter.

I would like to fire to stoneware temperatures using slips and celadon glaze to decorate the surface. I would also like to experiment with a larger pot of about 800mm high x 400mm.

Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3

Pot 4

3 Pots Together

Symposium Sculptures Taking Shape

Quite a few folks have now finished their clay models....next step is for the workers to come in and cover them with plaster to make the fibreglass moulds. These are then sent to Dalian on the coast to be made in Bronze. Meanwhile we keep working on Hinaki Eels....getting there slowly!

Naushad from the Maldives

Michael's "Visionary" (USA)

Kamal's "Mare" (Saudi Arabia)

Jonathan's "First Flight" (French Polynesia)

Eleanor and Allen's "Janus Arc" (Northern Ireland)

The lovely Etu taking a break from the stone work

Art Village in Gambia.....check it out

Far and away the highlight of this adventure so far is the people we are meeting. One of them, Etu Ndow, has set up an amazing art village in his home town in Gambia. His website is great and he is an inspiring fellow....click here to check it out Tunbung Art Village