About So-lan

Chiu So-lan is a devoted ceramic artist who grew up in a family of artists. Her creations has become more and more versatile in recent years, her works range from functional wares, ceramic sculptures, mixed-media works to installations. This constant artistic evolution, apart from being So-lan’s creative journey, is also a means to explore our society, the concept of self and the core of life. This exhibition features the recent works of the artist, works that reflect a new stage of style-and-concept transcendence, and the converging journeys of art and life.

Five years ago, an overwhelming turning point in So-lan’s life lead her to an in-depth reflection on the connection of self and creation. Similar to interpersonal bonding, the relation between artists and their creations changes with time, inevitably, where predictions are not possible. So-lan loves to read and be inspired by the works of Kafka, his writings recall many real life absurdities. The “Kafka Series” ＜卡夫卡系列＞ is a tribute to, and also a visual projection of her imagination through Kafka’s writing.

So-lan’s father is a painter, therefore she had the chance of experimenting with different artistic techniques and developing a love of books and art since young. ‘Bing Ju Xing’ ＜兵車行＞ and ‘Ta Sha Xing’ ＜踏莎行＞ are two installation works created with Chinese seal cutting technique. The two classic Chinese poems are carved in traditional seal scripts (Jin Wen 金文 ) onto clay seals. Each seal carries one word from the poem, and each seal has a unique form. So-lan infuses life, memories and reading journey in her works, and after all these years of ceramic creation, to simply conclude, life is art.

People, happenings and surroundings interact on an unknown trajectory, even the ever-mutable clay could once become solid and stable. So-lan’s first ceramic creations have taught her about getting in touch with the flowing nature of life, and in time, the silent mutability of clay reveals to her an elated stillness amid a journey without depiction.

Poon Ting Yi

Officiating Guests

Ms Chiu So-lan, Artist
Dr David Mole, Associate Provost (Teaching & Learning), HKUST
Ms Diana Chan, University Librarian, HKUST

Tour

This Guided Tour will explore the creative journey of Chiu So-lan and how she brings together skills and ideas into her creations through the appreciation of her recent works.

Students will get course hours after completing the Tour for fulfillment of Healthy Lifestyle Course Requirements.

Remarks

• UST staff and students will receive a 15% discount off the list price.
• To place an order, please contact Library (E-mail: library@ust.hk; phone: 2358-6707; fax: 2358-1043).

Library Holds 1st Ceramic Exhibition

(Issue No. 85, September 2012)

For the first time in HKUST Library’s history, we will stage a ceramic exhibition titled So-lan’s Totem · A Solo Exhibition of Chiu So-lan’s Ceramic Works (素蘭圖騰 · 趙素蘭個人陶藝作品展) this fall. Featuring over 270 pieces of Ms Chiu So-lan’s recent pottery works, the exhibition will be opened on 18 October by Dr David Mole and the ceramic artist.

Ms Chiu grew up in an artist family whose father is a Lingnan-style painter. She learned Chinese calligraphy, brushwork and seal engraving in her early age and was influenced by Western arts such as watercolor and oil painting during her childhood in Macau. In the 1990s, she moved to New Zealand where she engaged herself in ceramic arts and started to develop her own unique style embracing Chinese and Western inspirations.

Solan’s Totem (素蘭圖騰)” consists of 5 pieces, ranging from 6 to 7.5 feet tall, representing the artist’s new stage of style-and-concept transcendence. “Bing Ju Xing (兵車行)” is an installation created with Chinese seal cutting technique. This classic Chinese poem is carved in traditional seal scripts, Jin Wen (金文), onto clay seals, each carrying one word from the poem, and each seal has a unique form. Other pottery figures such as the Kafka Series (卡夫卡系列) carry the artist’s passion for this influential writer.

Don’t miss the opportunity to view this extraordinary exhibition in the Library Gallery!