Sam Ludden Ceramics : sam ludden

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

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

Sunday, June 5, 2011

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

ABOUT SAM'S HINAKI SCULPTURE

The Hinaki sculpture represents the traditional stories, passed down from generation to generation, of the New Zealand native eel. The form of this eel sculpture is based on the shape of Maori traditional eel nets which are called 'hinaki'.

This work is a homage to the ecology of the rivers and waters of our world which are under constant threat from urban development and human pollution. The natural world of our land and our rivers are of huge cultural and historical significance to the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Eels are inconic creatures that have been woven into countless stories over the centuries, stories told by both young and old alike. The hope is that this sculpture will visually communicate those stories in a way that increases understanding of NZ culture and inspires people across cultures to work together to protect and preserve our natural world.