The Chawan Challenge + Expo

          I took Ceramics 1 in my junior year and I madly in love with clay and making thing. Whenever class time come, I couldn't wait to get to touch clay or challenge myself on the wheel. Wheel throwing is the most challenge thing for me in Ceramics. Being on the wheel after 3 times, I am already see my progress; I've got better! And that is the reason why I want to take this class again. 

The chawan making process I've involve in is hand built and wheel-thrown. After making it for a week or more I think they do deserve the famous Japanese history and glory these artist are giving them . And I also do agree with Steven that a bowl with soul gives people good feeling when they handle and enjoying their tea. For me a well done chawan, the one is made with heart and soul will catch the user's and viewer's heart without trying.

Chawan is a bowl which you receive the cup of tea. Chawan originally came from the history of Japan. It did not take long for the Japanese to discover and incorporate them into their everyday life. The relationship between western civilization and the tea ceremony came to an abrupt halt when Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Shogun, forced Westerners out of Japan and shut the doors on them for almost 300 years. Tea ceremony is a social event and it also can have a religious dimension to it.

After going through the Chawan Expo catalogue, I've spotted some chawan that I like but the ones really stand out to me are those made by Chris Prisen from Belgium. I like it really much. I love how she glazes those chawans. It's the glazing that really catch my attention.

 These are 2 of my wheel thrown chawans. They aren't too great but I definitely love 'em.

Title: Tree Moss
Wheel thrown, Stoneware Clay
High fired
Glazes: Blue Rutile, Smoky Merlot

Title: Rise from the Earth
Wheel-thrown, Stoneware Clay
High fired
Glazes: Cobalt oxide, Blue Rutile and Oatmeal

And this is my hand built chawan

Hexagon shaped chawan
Hand built
High fired
Shino, Salt Buff and Blue Rutile glazes

        

All of the chawans in our Chawan Expo Show are great. Each has its own beauty and meaning. However, the one that I am most intrigued by is Chawan #2 by Miguel Castro. 

        By in-laying the glazes, Miguel did a great job showing the marks on this chawan. The marks shows the connection of human touch. The rim is altered and glazed with Temoku created a great effect to it. This chawan reminds me of the perfect harmony of the nature, the earth and the trees, these two will not live well without each other. And this chawan will definitely give the user an unforgettable time!

SAS CHAWAN EXPO SHOW

Every single chawan/teabowl in this expo is definitely gorgeous. Each has its own unique look. By being a part of this chawan show, I realize that making chawans is an art. It is a process and time consuming. Potters need to put their imaginations and souls into the chawan just to make each and every single one of them well done. 

Perseus Archetypes

The myth of Perseus is one of the most famous story in the Greek Mythology. Perseus is a hero who kills Medusa, who happens to be a gorgon in the myth from the book Mythology wrote by Edith Hamilton. There are many archetypes in this myth, but there are a few that stand out really well to me.

http://disney-at-heart.blogspot.sg/2014/02/maleficent.html

The first archetype is the tower which Danaë is imprisoned by her father, King Argos. He has been warned that he would be kill by his grandson. He has been thinking of killing her but he could not. Instead, he sends her away to a bronze tower with no door so that she would never marry and have children. The tower is the symbol which represents the lack of freedom and imprisoned. This reminds me of the character Princess Aurora from the movie Maleficent released not long ago. Aurora was imprisoned, was locked in a dark place without any people. She was alone all by herself.

While Danaë is imprisoned in the bronze tower, she happens to have a baby with a god named Zeus and she names him Perseus. King Argos is extremely furious and with no word, he shut them in a box and send them out to sea. Danaë and Perseus then floats to an island where Polydectes is king. King Polydectes deicides to get rid of Perseus so that he can marry Danaë by force; he sends Perseus out to get him Medusa' head. 

http://www.tomorrowworld.com/artist/superman-spiderman-batman

Perseus and Medusa both are archetypes in this story for being hero and monster. Perseus brings home Medusa's head and stones Polydectes and all his followers and too the sea monster to safe Andromeda, who he falls in love with. Similarly, there are many cartoons and movies with the idea of heros saving innocent people and beat the bad ones, such as in Batman, Spiderman, Superman, etc. 

In the end, Perseus end up killing his grandfather, King Argos by accident. This proves that the oracle, an archetypal character, was right. 

Introduction to Mythology:

What could a hero do in a world without monsters? 

After reading the Introduction to Classical Mythology, what really stand out to me is the part which talking about the role of mythical monster vs hero in many mythology. I think it is true that without monsters, there wouldn't be heroes. Monsters are imagined, created and embedded into stories to give the hero his meed of glory. Monsters, in many stories, chase after innocent beautiful youth woman and  likely there were almost no chance that she won't be rescued by a brave muscular man and ended with a happy ending. People always think of monsters as inhuman creatures, fear and terror. On the other hand, heroes are usually men; they have to be strong and brave to fight off the monster and save innocent people and to be admired for their achievements. Monsters are meant to be bad but they definitely bring in the entertainment and pleasure the readers. Without them, who will the hero fight and what will they do?

World Lit: Monstrous Images

Are these unnatural looking figures monsters? When the word “monster” being mentioned. We immediately think of a great-size, dangerous and ferocious appearance creature. Monster can also be referred as something extraordinary or unnatural, an amazing event or occurrence, a prodigy, a marvel or any imaginary creature that is large, ugly, and frightening in the Oxford English Dictionary. The picture above does seems to match with one of definition listed but what I am seeing here are just human mutants.

Human does undergoes mutations. We are evolving even today; we might be doing so even faster than before. In the picture above, we can clearly see 3 unnatural looking human-like bodies: one with a face on its own chest, one man with a big foot, and the last women with big ears. There are many cases of human mutation out there all over the world. They has been discussed on the news, on the Internet and even on the World Guiness Record. The reason why these 3 are considered monster is that with the absence of high technology and knowledge of science back then, people weren't able to make a difference between monsters and mutants.