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Taoxichuan·Jingdezhen International Studio relaunch the artist lecture series with online platform at 2021. The studio is very pleased to invite the American artist, Adam Chau, the titled of this week's lecture is "Digital Ceramics". The lecture will be held on Wednesday, January 20, at Taoxichuan International Education Program -- Master Online Lecture. In this lecture, Adam Chau will cover his research in digital technology and ceramics. He will talk about how he takes inspiration from digital culture and mix it with traditional ceramic techniques.
Adam Chau
Adam Chau (b. 1988, USA) is an artist working in New York. A graduate of the School of the Art Institute’s Designed Objects program (2013), his current body of work integrates digital manufacturing with traditional studio ceramics. His research has been published in Ceramics Technical, Studio Potter, Ceramics Art and Perception, Ceramics Monthly, and New Ceramics. In 2018 he was awarded the NCECA Emerging Artist Award; In 2019 he was accepted into the International Academy of Ceramics Solo exhibitions include Harvard Ceramics (Boston), Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (Pittsburgh), and The Clay Studio (Philadelphia), Taoxichuan (China).
The industrial production of objects has moved from using analog tools to computer-generated output void of the hand. My work explores how we can introduce the human hand into computer-controlled environments. I use handmade brushes to replaced standardized milling bits on a CNC machine in order to create graphic surfaces on porcelain.
By applying a unique tool to an otherwise industrial machine I can create spontaneous and evocative surfaces.
—— Adam Chau
This seemingly oppositional gesture towards mass production is not actually an act of rebellion, but a push to change the perspective that digitally-generated processes must be perfect.
I produce blue-and-white porcelain objects using cobalt as a pigment, drawing parallels with both historic craft with a loaded history of globalization via the silk road as well as a material that is used in the electronics industry (cobalt is used for lithium-ion batteries). As an Asian American I hope to continue the tradition of blue-and-white, however put a digital spin on such a respected medium. I find it imperative to find innovative ways to create ceramics as to not let the tradition and knowledge die; it is with both understanding of old techniques as well as a willingness to innovate that lets culture thrive.
The content of my work ranges from selfies, mannerisms from the millennial generation, and poetic text messages as I believe that a text is a 21st Century love letter. Much of my work is tile based and in the shape of electronics. I am interested in the smartphone being both a two-dimensional and three-dimensional object at the same time - much like a ceramic tile. I find the scale of a smartphone is intimate and persuasive in drawing an audience in because of familiarity of such a domestic object that can fit in one hand.