AOTM: Embryonics by James Seet

“Clay is a very interesting and fundamental material: it’s earth, it’s water, and—with fire—it takes on form and life.” – Rithy Panh.

This seems to be true as to how James Seet transforms clay into an abstract sculpture through the different processes and techniques of pottery. Embryonics does not only reflect the fragility and versatility of ceramic as its medium, but the work itself speaks loud for its aesthetic form, breaking through the stereotypical function and limitation of pottery.

Seet has had a fiery passion for creative clay making since a very young age. He experiments and heals with clay, using innovative ideas to express himself as an artist. Shaping the clay into a sphere, he repeats several round shapes—both indents and protrusions—creating a sense of rhythm and movement. This goes well with the concept of “embryonic” as represented by the title of the artwork, which may relate to an embryo going through the early development process—or may represent the rudimentary stage of developing something more subtle, perhaps something that connects deeply with the ceramist.

This three-dimensional porcelain was shaped using a more refined clay and was fired under a higher temperature to create a smoother and shinier texture to the surface, especially the silver metallic blob-like parts that underwent a metallic glaze process. On the surface, Seet with his experience and knowledge as a designer has playfully decorated the sculpture with intricate designs of black, grey, blue, and amber lines and dots of various sizes, thickness, and shapes, the erratic order and permutations of the designs adding more impact to his work.

James Seet is a Malaysian advertising pioneer with over 20 years of experience in creating art within advertising design. He has participated and represented Malaysia in various ceramic festivals, exhibitions, and conferences worldwide and his works are included in international collections, such as the ceramic museums in A’lcora, Spain and Shaw International Centre for Contemporary Ceramics Canada. He had his first solo exhibition titled “Memories” in 2019 and was given the honour to speak at TEDx Petaling Street in 2022. Seet has also published his artist book, Ceramic Alchemy, in 2022.