Interview with Cover Artist Ling Chun

Ling Chun is the cover artists for the 2022 Summer Course Catalog and is teaching the Clay Makerspace during CAMP: our 3-week Intensive.

What are you most looking forward to in coming to Ox-Bow to teach next summer? 
I am most looking forward is the face-to-face connection with students after teaching an online class for more than two years now. 

What was the inspiration behind the piece you have featured for our catalog cover?
Green Jar, 2018— my inspiration for this work is finding the most recognizable language of ceramics ( in this case, the vase ) that connects with the most audience. With the use of hair as the extension of glaze— I intend to break the old structure and shape and walk my audience to look at ceramics from a refreshing perspective — simple way to say: I am giving ceramics a make-over. 

Your course says you are taking inspiration from historical movements, can you elaborate a bit more on which movements you will be highlighting?
The course would emphasize the most recent contemporary movement in the ceramics discourse — how cross-discipline this medium has become. Also, what does it means when dominantly crafts-based ceramics become more used as an art medium. 

What about ceramics do you love and why did you want to lead this makerspace?
Nothing like clay capture movement intuitively— spoil alert: SO MUCH disappointment from the ceramics process makes you appreciate every little moment— that’s what I love about ceramics. It makes you look at the world differently. Part of the reason to lead this maker space is the excitement I have for a student interested in what sort of projects and wild ideas they will bring in. For most, I love giving a demo and showing the possibility you can do with ceramics.

Are there any exciting highlights you would like to share about your course that we can share? What can students look forward to in your course?

Do you like sparkle? I bring lots of sparkle and glitter to the course. I am not joking. I will teach you how to make your work likes it from outer space. 

About the artist…

Ling Chun (she/her) is a multimedia artist from Hong Kong. Her work represents the coexistence of multicultural identities within a single society. Chun’s practice focuses on creating artifacts which speak about history with a contemporary sensibility. In her execution and conceptualization of creative projects, Chun brings together her knowledge of Chinese culture and her contemporary artistic vision. Chun aspires to create public artifacts to bring relevance to historical storytelling in her future artistic pursuits. Chun is the recipient of numerous awards including the ArtBridge Fellowship 2020 sponsored by Chihuly Garden and Glass and The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts emerging artist award in 2020. In 2019, Chun was shortlisted for the Young Master Art Prize in London and recently she has been shortlisted for 2021 Korea International Ceramics Biennale. Chun is currently based in Seattle. She works as a ceramic educator at North Seattle College and also as an educational guide for the Wing Luke Museum.