“Hello, do you supply pottery tools and offer firing service?”
That was the first sentence I said when I decided to visit a pottery studio post-pandemic. I simply Googled and called the nearest place to me. Cheah, A Touch of Clay picked up, and I naturally assumed it was like any of those commercial pottery studios in Melbourne—selling supplies and offering services. Since the clay I brought back from Australia was earthenware (which would melt in Cheah's usual firing temperature), I ended up getting a new block of clay from Cheah’s studio. I still don’t quite understand why I did, but of course, I ended up creating more and more work at home.
Each time I visited to fire my work, usually with a bit of life update: “Im interior designer, looking for a job.” “I'm on probation.” “I quit the job.” “I found another job.” And in the meantime, I also learned how to glaze there, since I’d never done it before. For almost two years, Cheah was the only potter I’d met since moving back to KL. Over time, I started hearing his name more often—through his students, mostly. It turns out he’s a sensei of sorts. Anyone serious about ceramics would’ve taken his classes. I sometimes feel like I owe him some lesson fees.
As someone working independently, it often feels like you’re out there alone.
When my shelf started overflowing, I decided to sell a small collection at a curated pop-up market organized by YouNi. That’s where I met John and Ka Seng, Qihewood Pottery from Sangetsu Pottery—their booth was right across from mine. They had hundreds of ceramic pieces laid out on the ground, and I shyly approached at first… then shamelessly touched everything they had. After the market, I visited their studio in Seremban, and I began sending my work there to be fired whenever Cheah’s studio wasn’t available.
Sangetsu Pottery is home to a small community of potters. Everyone’s practice is so uniquely their own, full of style and technique. There aren’t many studios around, let alone ones that open their doors so generously to the public. I’ve been lucky to meet them—and to occasionally bump into other ceramicists there too, like Sheen Makes Pots, who are so down-to-earth and passionate sitting in front of glazes, doing her complicated glazing steps that cause my silent " wow " by her patience until she finally gets to sit down and have lunch together (she continue glazing after the quick lunch). Sangetsu Pottery has also been my SOS crew in more situations than I can count.
Each time I meet another ceramicist, it’s like meeting a co-worker who’s been beside you all along—just on a parallel path. It’s rare, and weirdly comforting.
One of the events I joined with my YAE artist group was a booth at The Godown KL, where I first met Chloe from Lulu Pottery House. She’s incredibly open and kind, always sharing her knowledge and experience as an independent ceramicist. Her beautiful work is loved by collectors with every drop she releases. Because she’s so active in the community, it didn’t take long before I saw her again—this time at Pot Heads Pottery Market in Penang. It was the first of its kind, curated by Clay Pu, a studio run by a whole pottery family in a dreamy natural environment—Thittho. A bunch of ceramicists were invited for breakfast—22 Tutu Craft Studio (I low-key entertained by their reels) included. I still remember how the mom in the house made shockingly realistic garlic in ceramics (too bad, no photo—just a memory).
My (pokemon) GO game hasn’t stopped.
All of us are now part of an group exhibition:
CLAY
7 – 27 April 2025
Kuro Coffee, Kuala Lumpur
CLAY, is a celebration of ceramics in all its diversity. What’s especially exciting about this show is the variety of works on display, ranging across different firing methods, forms, and creative approaches. Each artist, from experienced hands to newer ceramicists like myself, brings their niche style and interpretation.
Kuro Coffee is a roastery cafe, and they have an event space. Run by graphic designers and coffee lovers who support local artists and also collect ceramics on their travels, they turned the space above the café into a gallery purely out of love for the craft. 100% of the proceeds from art sales go directly to the artists. It’s rare and heartwarming.
More artists featured in the exhibition, whom I haven’t met yet, I hope to cross paths soon:
RAAQUU, Two Potters, Lim Jahyi, Jun Pottery, The Uncanny Valley Studio, Wk Studio
So many more friends aren’t mentioned here, and I hope next time we can share the spotlight. After all, go with the flow is kind of our everyday rhythm.
A reel captured the close-up essence of the exhibition.
