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The Work & The Process | Shiyuan Xu | Episode 1197
Shiyuan Xu | Episode 1173
Shiyuan Xu was born in China and is currently an assistant professor teaching at California State University, Chico. Shiyuan received her BA from China Academy of Art and an MFA from Arizona State University. Shiyuan has exhibited nationally and internationally and is the recipient of 2021 NCECA Emerging Artist and 2017 Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist.
SPONSORS
You can help support the show!
GRPotteryForms.com
TortugaTools.com
BuschKraft.shop
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
How important is slowness in your process for making?
That’s a good question. In the development process of my works it definitely takes much longer time to figure out where the direction is going to go. It seems I am more familiar with the process, in some way it’s less time. I feel like the slowness is more like a therapeutic process for me. It really make me focus in the moment of making and I really actually enjoy that.
What part of the process requires the most care from you, the most attention?
That defiantly comes from the building process. Like how it starts, and how the direction of the pattern or the elements or the flow it goes. And how to make it more 3 dimensional and what color to use in certain parts. There are a lot of decision making moments in the making process.
Is there a part of your work that you are still trying to understand?
Yes, so I think as an artist you always want to push yourself to see here your work can go. I think there’s still a lot of things I can improve in my work. I am really interested in shapes and I am still very interested in a variety of structures, that’s another one. I am also very interested n textures, the surface, that’s a major one.
When did you realize you were starting to have a voice?
I think that comes from the grad school process. In grad school it’s definitely a lot of experimenting. You don’t really know what you are doing but making mistakes and trying to explore the direction you want to go, or you don’t want to go and then eliminates and narrows it down. In grad school you have your peers, you have your mentors that ask questions about your practice and give you thoughts and feedback. I think that’s really precious. And slowly you see your work starting to form into a unique voice.
Do you remember the first time someone recognized your work as your work?
I don’t know. It’s been so long, I guess. Probably right out of grad school. At the time I was doing glaze experiments and people were interested in the gloopy glazes.
What keeps you excited about clay?
I think the excitement comes from the possibilities. The infinite possibilities of clay. That really excites me. And when I I think baits making. I start literally with a ball of clay that’s nothing and then it can transform into different process and transform into a final piece of work. The whole process, from zero to a piece of artwork, that’s always amazing.
Book
Teaching Art & Life by Chris Staley
Contact
shiyuanxu.com
Instagram: @shiyuanxu129
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By Show Notes – The Potters CastShiyuan Xu | Episode 1173
Shiyuan Xu was born in China and is currently an assistant professor teaching at California State University, Chico. Shiyuan received her BA from China Academy of Art and an MFA from Arizona State University. Shiyuan has exhibited nationally and internationally and is the recipient of 2021 NCECA Emerging Artist and 2017 Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist.
SPONSORS
You can help support the show!
GRPotteryForms.com
TortugaTools.com
BuschKraft.shop
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
How important is slowness in your process for making?
That’s a good question. In the development process of my works it definitely takes much longer time to figure out where the direction is going to go. It seems I am more familiar with the process, in some way it’s less time. I feel like the slowness is more like a therapeutic process for me. It really make me focus in the moment of making and I really actually enjoy that.
What part of the process requires the most care from you, the most attention?
That defiantly comes from the building process. Like how it starts, and how the direction of the pattern or the elements or the flow it goes. And how to make it more 3 dimensional and what color to use in certain parts. There are a lot of decision making moments in the making process.
Is there a part of your work that you are still trying to understand?
Yes, so I think as an artist you always want to push yourself to see here your work can go. I think there’s still a lot of things I can improve in my work. I am really interested in shapes and I am still very interested in a variety of structures, that’s another one. I am also very interested n textures, the surface, that’s a major one.
When did you realize you were starting to have a voice?
I think that comes from the grad school process. In grad school it’s definitely a lot of experimenting. You don’t really know what you are doing but making mistakes and trying to explore the direction you want to go, or you don’t want to go and then eliminates and narrows it down. In grad school you have your peers, you have your mentors that ask questions about your practice and give you thoughts and feedback. I think that’s really precious. And slowly you see your work starting to form into a unique voice.
Do you remember the first time someone recognized your work as your work?
I don’t know. It’s been so long, I guess. Probably right out of grad school. At the time I was doing glaze experiments and people were interested in the gloopy glazes.
What keeps you excited about clay?
I think the excitement comes from the possibilities. The infinite possibilities of clay. That really excites me. And when I I think baits making. I start literally with a ball of clay that’s nothing and then it can transform into different process and transform into a final piece of work. The whole process, from zero to a piece of artwork, that’s always amazing.
Book
Teaching Art & Life by Chris Staley
Contact
shiyuanxu.com
Instagram: @shiyuanxu129