GAYA CERAMIC ARTS CENTER presents
SCULPTING LIKE A BUDDHA:
Techniques and thoughts on creating large-scale
figurative clay works
with Naidee Changmoh
Join
internationally renowned Thai artist, Naidee Changmoh, as he offers two weeks
of meditative focus on the technical and conceptual approach to figurative
sculpting at a grand scale. Participants
will learn to masterfully utilize a simple pinching technique, beginning smaller
scale and working up to a seated or standing figure of up to 150cm, all the
while contemplating the personality and emotive potential to be drawn forth in
their sculpture. Finding inspiration in
the purity and joy of children, and in the Buddhism that he practices, Naidee’s
own massive-scaled works maintain a softness and expression that belie their
stature, but certainly underline the artist’s own nature and sensibilities.
“For many years I’ve been working in a
kindergarten. My artworks were inspired by the kids-their pureness, cuteness,
full with happiness-their beautiful energy influences me to create my work. I
keep doing my work in relation to Buddhism to keep my mind not too far from
peace. I use cartoon forms to create my positive thinking out of the artwork.”
NC
DAY-BY-DAY WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
27 March: Sunday evening Welcome
Dinner MOKSA
Restaurant
An exquisite meal set upon anagama-fired ware at the restaurant of
director Hillary Kane’s husband. A
relaxed evening in which participants can get to know one another and share
their stories and intentions for being here.
Dessert will be served with a slideshow given by Naidee, sharing his
journey as an artist, his inspiration, and of course his many and varied works.
28 March: Monday Beginning Meditation GCAC
Morning: an introduction to Gaya Ceramic Arts Center studio—facilities,
staff, tools and clay. Followed by
Naidee’s first detailed discussion and demonstration on technique in
approaching large ceramic sculpture, and a brainstorming on paper.
Each
participant will begin with a sketch of their intended first sculptural idea.
(Possibly,
sketches will transform into miniature 3-D maquettes in clay as well.)
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: digging into clay and launching our first medium-scaled seated figurative
work. (Aiming at finished height of
between 60cm-100cm.)
29 March: Tuesday Sitting Action GCAC
Working at a steady and efficient pace—these first figures are as much
about gaining familiarity and control of the pinching-paddling method of
building as they are about creating a finished piece. Participants continue working on seated
figure, while thinking toward a standing version.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine. Followed by Participant Presentations
(informal sharing slides of each participant’s ceramic or artistic work)—a
lovely opportunity to further get to know one another and to look into the
thoughts and intentions in joining this program.
Afternoon: commencing standing figure’s legs, allowing
time for stiffening and strengthening before continuation in the morning. Continue/Concluding seated figure.
30 March: Wednesday Standing Action GCAC
Participants plunge into working on their standing
position figure, (legs should have had time to stiffen slightly since afternoon
prior). Discussion on splinting for
support as figure grows?
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: continued personal projects
31 March: Thursday Keep On Standing Batubulan
/ GCAC
Morning Excursion: an
inspiring visit to the effortlessly skilled Balinese stone carvers who
specialize sculpting various figurative forms in parras, sandstone, and
volcanic lime stone.
Lunch: Rice-field overlook café near Batubulan
Afternoon: Discussion/demonstration on facial features or
any gesture or detail that really speaks to expression/emotion in the
piece. Continue and conclude standing
figure, then brainstorming ideas for a third figure of your own
determination.
1 April: Friday New Asana GCAC
Really working one’s own concept and style,
participants begin a new third figure of their own idea, in any desired posture. Naidee, of course, supporting each person’s
goals with advice and assistance.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: continued personal projects
2 April: Saturday The Final Skin GCAC
Concluding all 3 medium-scale works—specifically looking at choices
surrounding final surface and final finish of the raw pieces.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: continued personal projects
Evening Dinner: a casual hands-on evening at
director, Hillary Kane’s, house—wood-fired pizza-making, and generally
relaxing. Possible image-sharing from
figurative ceramicists worldwide.
3 April: Sunday FREE DAY anywhere Bali
4 April: Monday EXCURSION Jimbaran
A full-day tour of the spectacular
project-in-progress at the Garuda Wisnu
Kencana Cultural Park (www.gwkbali.com) – where renowned Balinese
stone-sculptor, Nyoman Nuarta, has
built the massive “maquette” stone sculptures (themselves up to 75m high) as
the study for a incomparably vast proposed future project. The figurative works feature the ubiquitous
Hindu Ramayana characters of the god Wisnu and his bird-chariot, Garuda.
Lunch: together at the Cultural Park
Group option: to enjoy an evening sunset dinner
at Jimbaran Beach’s famous grilled seafood market, or to return directly to
Ubud by late afternoon.
5 April: Tuesday Go Big or Go Home GCAC
Contemplation/discussion on the effect of scaling
UP (physically, conceptually, emotionally).
Participants will start making their big piece
(which could be an enlargement of one of the previous smaller works, or a new
posture altogether). The entire week will
be dedicated to learning and practice—and hopefully achieving the final large
sculpture (aiming for around 150cm).
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: continued personal projects
6
April: Wednesday Gravity and other Constraints GCAC
As participants continue working on their large
pieces, we will discuss the challenges to working large-scale, how to foresee
them and overcome (or work with) them to achieve your vision.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: continued personal projects
7
April: Thursday Onward
and upward GCAC
Continuing to build bulk of the large figure,
assessing and working with any potential trouble-points as they arise.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: continued personal projects
8
April: Friday Finishing Details: face and hands GCAC
Naidee shares a bit of his philosophy on creating
works that are true to You—finding, refining and expressing your Self in clay.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: continued personal projects
9 April: Saturday Lessons from the Buddha GCAC
What do the figure and scale have to teach you? A concluding (unfired) display and contemplation
of the entire experience.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine together
before departure.
Departure: by 2pm
** Participants will have the option to have GCAC bisque fire (up to
1000C) their finished raw works when the
works are sufficiently dry to fire without too much risk. This will necessarily be several weeks
post-workshop. If the participant does
decide to bisque fire, they will be responsible for either pick up or payment
for shipping. (All shipping
possibilities will be discussed early in the workshop). **
Artist Statement... Naidee
Changmoh
When I was young I really love to see cartoon in
the television and read cartoon book. It was another world and seemed really
real for the kids. My favorite cartoons were “Doraemon” and “Ikkyu-san” Both of
these cartoons are about creativity, moral, and virtue. Children will deep into
the world and cartoon and absorb behavior of their hero to themselves. I think
cartoon in my childhood affected to my way of thinking and my behavior when I
grow up.
More than 90% of Thai population is Buddhist. I
am also. Once when I was 12 years old, I had chance to be little monk. We
learned to do meditation, and I got very wonderful experience that I will never
forget. It made me believed deeply in the way of Buddhism.
From those experiences, it always appear in my art work. I created
art work through many techniques, I work with ceramics, acrylic painting,
Chinese ink painting, concrete sculptures, architecture. I used cartoon form to
create my art works. The result of every material will came out the same
feeling. Feeling of loveliness, happiness, peaceful. I love to create art works
on the positive thinking way.
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