Mandy Cheng

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Biography

Mandy Cheng’s focus is on porcelain and to make pots that are unique ergonomic forms. Her works are designed to be graceful and minimalist, to conjure a feeling of lightness and a sense of movement.
The signature mesmerizing patterns mimic the vivid diversity of nature. Using the nerikomi method, the patterns are meticulously prepared by repeated cutting and layering of plain and coloured porcelain sheets. This hands-on approach ensures every pattern is unique and unrepeatable. Being creative and technically minded, Mandy uses her skills to overcome the combined challenges of the natural fragility of porcelain, the complex nerikomi method, and the difficulty of hand-building thin porcelain works.
Mandy graduated with a degree in science, majoring in chemistry. While working, she began her part-time education in ceramics, learning and practising in different studios under the teaching of different ceramic artists. In 2000, Mandy stopped working in the commercial field to have her own studio and become a full-time ceramic artist.

 

The technique – Nerikomi method:

Start with a vision of the pattern in mind, working backwards, calculates how many sheets of different thicknesses of white, grey and black stained porcelain are required, to be layered, in a special sequence, to form blocks. 

These blocks are cut again into sheets, along the side, at an angle, at different thicknesses, or roll up, and re-layered, to arrive at the desired pattern, in the form of a block. 

A thin slice is cut from this final block, rolled even thinner to give an organic movement to the pattern. Templates are cut out, and the piece is hand-built. The works are sanded on the outside to a silky smooth finish, left unglazed, and glazed on the inside. 

 

Selected Exhibitions 

2021 Ceramics Ireland Selected Members Exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, Ireland
2021 Monochrome: Shades of Black & White, Ruthin Craft Centre, UK
2021 Ceramics Expressions 4th Edition, Singapore Art Week, The Substation, Singapore
2020 A Legacy of Firsts: The Everson Collects’, The Everson Museum, New York, USA
2018 Winter, Studio Eleven, Hull, UK
2018 Handbuilt, Clay College Gallery, Stoke-en-Trent, UK
2018 Pouring Pot, Bavarian Craft Council Galerie, Munich, Germany
2017 Tableware, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-en-Trent, UK
2017 The Graceful Minimalist, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, UK
2017 Assembled Space, Contemporary Ceramics Center, London UK
2015 A table autrement !, Gallery Du Don, Le Fel, France
2014 Fairy, Gallery Du Don, Le Fel, France