Artist Statement
During COVID when I didn’t have access to the studio, I purchased a miniature wheel with the intention of continuing my hobbies on my own time much like the rest of the world. I learnt quickly that porcelain was the perfect medium for my ideas but it also challenged what I knew about working with clay, having only worked with stoneware that I used for my normal sized pieces. I started with stoneware, but found that its natural grit made it too difficult to achieve the perfect smooth surfaces I was seeking. Because porcelain is much less forgiving, with a steeper learning curve, it took me a while to appreciate its qualities. Creating miniatures is something I always do with sculptures, but porcelain’s natural translucency became an important feature for me to highlight, to try and push the limits of how thin my pieces could be on a wheel. Making tiny functional ware became an exciting trial with every piece. As any potter knows, teapots are complex factoring in perfectly fitting lids that remain fitting throughout firings and pouring through a spout that requires knowledge of fluid dynamics, which made these the perfect project to challenge myself on.
Biography
Rachel Lo initially started learning ceramics as a young child at the local community centre, enrolled by her parents who are also potters. Retaining her interest in pottery throughout all her years of school, she joined the UBC Pottery Club and later the Richmond Pottery Club. Though Rachel’s primary career is not art, ceramics has remained a constant throughout, where she is able to continue developing skills and techniques learnt over the years. She is now back at school as a graduate student and continues to make ceramics at home, occasionally collaborating with her father who enjoys painting beautiful scenery on plates. Rachel enjoys challenging her abilities to make ceramics both large and small, and occasionally delves into sculpture when inspired.
Instagram: @tiny.mud