John Leong CK

November 11, 2023

By John Leong

This year I participated in my first major exhibition held at the ArtCommune Gallery on 6 to 12 Oct 2023.  There were all together six artists who exhibited their works.  The theme of the exhibition BEYOND signifies each artist’s efforts in going beyond their comfort zone and create something new and exciting.

I made eight pieces of new works  especially for this exhibition.  I combined ceramics which signify changes and movements which has been a characteristic of my life, with different types of metal rods which mark the passing of time.  The art works were well received and the exhibition was a success.

Throughout my life, I have experienced countless relocations, constantly moving from one home, school, job, city, and country to another. These repeated transitions have necessitated my adaptation to shifting social norms, cultures, languages, and communities. Movement and change have emerged as the enduring constants in my life, fostering within me a deep yearning for stability, balance, and purpose. I am compelled to seek points of reference, principles of life and sources of strength that transcend physical spaces and geographical boundaries, enabling me to derive clarity amidst the cacophony and disorder.

In this body of work, I endeavor to encapsulate the essence of uncertainty that accompanies change and perpetual motion, juxtaposing it with moments of centeredness and grounding. My chosen medium, clay, possesses a transformative nature-pliant and receptive in its raw form, yet solid and unyielding once fired. Composed of elements shaped by the earth’s ceaseless shifts, clay becomes an embodiment of movement and change. In addition, I employ metal rods, simultaneously sturdy and flexible, symbolizing the ceaseless rhythm and resonance of the ever-passing time.

Through the interplay of these materials, I strive to evoke a sense of timelessness, transcending physical space and borders. By molding clay and manipulating metal, I seek to convey the intricate dance between permanence and transience, and to explore the harmonious convergence of movement and change, with inner equilibrium. My artistic exploration becomes an avenue through which I navigate the complexities of existence, striving to utilize a visual language that resonates with the human experience.