The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 53 No 2 July 2014

The Source of Light
Two post-graduate students from the Australian
National University Ceramics Workshop are
focusing their studies on light.
Above: Peng Qian (Fiona), The Light, h.18cm
Photo: Peng Qian
Below: Jo Victoria. Traces. h.35cm
Photo: Kelly Austin
PhD candidate Peng Qian (Fiona) is exploring
how light can transfer through ceramics and
create a poetic image to show the nature of the
ceramic material. Her square forms are made of
fabric immersed in Dehua porcelain and fired to
1280·C, The series is displayed in a group with
no two pieces exactly the same. The firing of
the work distorts the cube to a more natural
form. Peng Qian (Fiona) is now exploring other
possibilities of fabric clay, working with light and
shadow, and the special quality of fabric clay
ceramic art.
Jo Victoria is a Master of Visual Arts student
whose recent art practice has focused on
revealing hidden stories in landscapes. She is
interested in exploring the qualities of a place,
attempting to find an essence of the place in
her work. Her stamping and carving into thin
vessel walls of Southern Ice porcelain allow
translucent images to come alive under a strong
light source. These images appear fossil-like
within the body of the works. In this way, the
light gives voice to silent histories that are
embodied in a place and this creates a sense
of drama and mystery. In this way even the
smallest stories of place can become illuminated
against the layers of deep time that have left
their marks.
A report by Sue Hewat
104 THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS JULY 2014