Our Artist at the Helm
"I am deeply intrigued by unearthed pottery from archaeological sites as they immortalize in clay the connection between ancient, modern, and future humans.
If the first man and the last man are biologically the same, the phrase “I think; therefore I am” should ring true for both. The innate need for self-expression suggests that identity is synonymous with humanity.
Exacerbated by social media, the discourse on identity politics is showing signs of becoming more explosive and less kind. It is therefore important to remember our common origin and explore the relationship between individual and community – we are all the-same-but-different.
I use a hexagon to symbolize “the individual” in my works. Using color, texture, and, arranging them in relation to each other I ask questions and make social commentaries of “the self” versus “the others”. The hexagon is a recurring geometry abounding in nature – from the molecular structure of clay to honeycombs. With its tessellating property providing an efficient way to form networks, each unit regardless of color and texture fits in perfectly.
In an increasingly complex, noisy, and sometimes vitriolic world, my works express hope that everyone finds their safe space to be different."
- Rayn Leow
Since he was a child, Rayn Leow has always shown an affinity for the arts. One of his fondest memories is playing with mud, which he dexterously sculpted into figurines. In secondary school, he joined the symphonic band, revelling in his role as a French horn player.
Despite his artistic leanings, at the fork of the road, Rayn pursued the science track and studied evolutionary biology in university. The work was humdrum. Wanting to be self-reliant when he returned, he became a combat engineer officer in the Singapore Armed Forces. Pottery, being a confluence of skills, sculpting and sensuality, was the autodidact’s creative outlet. Following his three-year army stint, he worked as a manager at his father’s construction business. Unbeknownst to him at the time, the Computer Aided Design (CAD) software knowledge he picked up while creating and amending construction drawings would later benefit him as a potter.
While he suppressed his true passion to continue earning a livelihood, it never faded. It took a tragedy of losing a very close friend to cancer to jolt him out of his rut. With a resolve not to waste his life anymore, in 2020, he carved his own path to set up Ceramication. His interwoven experiences give him a unique advantage. The scientist in him is at ease with mixing materials in their elemental forms. His CAD knowledge allows him to render intangible concepts into 3D perspectives of visible lines, shapes and shades.
Today, at Ceramication, even as he pays homage to the past, Rayn sets on defying conventions with his art.
