2024 AWARD WINNER | Manchester School of Art

YAN LING JESSICA MOK Manchester School of Art | BA (Hons) Product Design & Craft

Recipient of the Potclays Graduate Award in 2024 as part of our Educlaytion programme

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Please tell us about yourself, your work, and your career path so far.
I am a fresh graduate from the Manchester School of Arts, originally from Hong Kong and now based in the UK. As an artist and designer specializing in ceramics, I have a profound interest in glaze and its chemical properties. Exploring different properties of glazes and clays is a crucial part of my creative process. My innovative approach utilizes glaze as the primary material rather than clay, employing glaze-casting techniques to challenge traditional perceptions of glaze's role in ceramics. My playful creations push the boundaries of ceramic art, aiming to create a sense of material confusion and provide a unique viewing experience for the audience. My practice is process-led and research-based, with a strong emphasis on learning through making.

Describe your first encounter with clay?
My first encounter with clay was during a pottery class at HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity in Hong Kong around 2016. The class involved slip-casting an object—a perfume bottle that held personal significance for me. It was intriguing that my first experience with clay was in its slip form, rather than shaping it directly with my hands. In this way, I experienced clay as a very gentle material, resulting in a delicate object that captivated me with its characteristics. This was the first time I learned that clay could replicate objects in such detail, allowing me to create exquisite pieces. The entire process of working with clay was quiet and lengthy, further deepening my appreciation for the medium.

Why did you choose ceramics?
The exploration of ceramics is infinite. Initially, I found that working with ceramics made me focus and lose track of time, creating a very meditative experience. I enjoyed the softness of clay and the instinctive reward of sculpting an object with my hands. As I progressed, I realized there are endless techniques to learn, allowing me to spend a lot of time exploring this material without getting bored. The chemistry in ceramics offers endless possibilities, constantly exciting me with its potential. It is the material of ceramics itself that captivates me.

Where do you find inspiration? Places, people, objects, music…
I look at many artists' works and visit exhibitions to inspire myself. One of the exhibitions, 'Strange Clay,' held in 2022 at the Hayward Gallery, had a huge impact on my practice. I also love wandering around cities, observing the architecture around me, with a particular interest in brutalist architecture. Additionally, I often find fascinating features such as peeling paint on old buildings and broken brick walls. Understanding the history behind these buildings also inspires me.

What are the tools of your trade that you can't do without?
Plaster moulds for casting, plaster batts for sculpting glaze, frother for mixing small-scale glazes.

What is a typical day in the studio like?
It's always busy. I start my day with a clear plan of tasks to finish before heading into the studio. After a coffee, I dive into work. I prefer to start with a clean workspace, but inevitably, as the day progresses, my space becomes cluttered. There's always a lot of cleaning involved!

What do the next 12 months have in store for you?
I will be participating in an upcoming exhibition with Creative Industries Trafford. Aside from exhibitions, I also keep searching for creative opportunities, artist residencies, I am still on the journey of searching!

What advice do you have for those currently studying ceramics in further education?
Be open and flexible to learn new things, stay curious. Always seek feedback from people. If possible, try to collaborate with various individuals that specialise in different creative category, meet people and learn from them while exchanging ideas. And of course, grasp this great learning experience to find your unique voice and style. Enjoy!