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Sydney-based ceramicist Somchai Charoen will visit us for another fabulous specialist workshop on 2-3 April 2022, 10am – 4pm. Somchai is known and respected for his complext vibrant sculptures made from the innovative use of plaster moulds and the slip-cast ceramics process. Mould making and slip casting were first developed in industry to make repetitively accurate objects in large numbers which ironically elevated ceramics to a “collectable” status through the idea of “perfection” whilst enabling mass production at cheaper prices. Whilst remaining in active use in industry today, there are now many artists who utilise this technique to create innovative and extraordinary artworks. Somchai Charoen is one of them and his knowledge of mould making and slip casting processes is exemplary. Using moulds gives Somchai the flexibility to experiment with layering and repeating forms, an example being his vertical sculpture vases that playfully stack arrangements of bold geometric shapes.
Somchai exhibits widely and his work is held in significant public and private collections. We are very excited to bring this wonderful Sydney-based artist back to Melbourne for a two-day workshop on 15-16 January 2022, to demonstrate his techniques. The workshop will consist of a brief artist talk outlining Somchai’s work and development during his career and will be followed by an extensive demonstration of techniques where individual questions can be asked.
Somchai Charoen is a Thai born ceramic artist based in Sydney who has exhibited both nationally and internationally. Trained in industrial ceramics design, he was a former lecturer at Silpakorn University, Thailand. Since migrating to Australia in 2002, he has worked commercially as a mould and model maker as well as established his ceramic home ware label Eat Clay. Somchai is a co-founder of Belmore ITCH, a creative for non-ceramic artists to experiment, explore and interpret the medium.
Somchai has over twenty years experience in making plaster moulds and slip-casting ceramics. He likes to challenge his skills by making moulds that will explore the idea and possibilities of what the mould making technique can be. For example he has created plaster moulds that can be easily be used to make a number of composite moulds or can be connected in different ways by having parts that can be constructed or of flexible arrangement. Somchai will showcase his latest new mould making and slip casting techniques by creating plaster moulds that are able to dip into the slip to create the forms instead of pouring slip into the plaster moulds.
You will receive an intense weekend of valuable learning from this highly knowledgable maker in this specialised field of ceramics.
Suitable for all levels but it is highly advisable to have a good understanding of the ceramic process and terminology.
When: Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April 2022
Time: 10-4pm
Price: $360