Have you ever heard of Mud Rock? Chances are, you’ve eaten off a Mud Rock plate, as the homegrown ceramics studio located in Lavender has produced plenty of pottery and ceramic wares for various fine and indie F&B restaurants around Singapore.
Mud Rock was founded 10 years ago by Michelle Lim and Seok Har Ng with the aim to expand the presence of locally handcrafted ceramics. Since its formation, Mud Rock has since grown not just to educate individuals in the art of pottery-making but has cultivated a large clientele, like the late Queen Elizabeth II (the studio crafted a tea set for her 90th birthday), one-Michelin-starred restaurant Seroja, Art Science Museum, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and the National Gallery of Singapore.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Mud Rock is hosting its first five-day Clay Camp from Sept 27 to Oct 3, offering participants Masterclasses with award-winning master ceramicists, alongside lectures, career talks, live demonstrations, and guided museum tours.
Clay Camp will be free for public visitors, with some ticketed events. Those who want the full experience can get the Clay Camp All-access Tickets for $350 where they can enjoy privileged perks and priority access to all Clay Camp programmes.
Here are three key events that participants can take part in during Mud Rock’s five-day Clay Camp.
Masterclasses and lectures
From Sept 28 to 30, participants can take part in masterclasses and lectures, all led by award-winning ceramic masters: Greg Daly, an Australian ceramic artist who is well known for his technical skills and aesthetic virtuosity of glazes and dynamic forms; Janet DeBoos, another Australian ceramic artist who is celebrated for her mastery of glaze technology; Somluk Pantiboom, a Thai master ceramicist known as Thailand’s National Living Treasure, and is known for fusing Japanese and northern Thai styles; Zhang Liming, a Chinese ceramic artist known for his mastery of fiery techniques, and the co-inventor of China’s first smokeless wood kiln; and Iskandar Jalil, legendary Singaporean master potter and recipient of the Cultural Medallion who is known for using Southeast Asian motifs and Jawi calligraphy.
These masterclasses, ranging from Porcelain Throwing to Glaze and Lustre-making, are priced from $180 to $400. Tickets are sold separately from Clay Camp All-Access Tickets.
Exhibitions
From Sept 28 to Oct 1, the Arts House will house three exhibitions.The Master’s Show will showcase four ceramic masters – Greg Daly, Janet DeBoos, Somluk Pantiboon, and cultural medallion potter Iskandar Jalil – that helped contribute to Mud Rock’s growth. The Earth is a sustainability-focused exhibition that will feature Chinese ceramic artist Zhang Ziming and Mud Rock, featuring the possibilities of carbon-neutral smokeless kilns and the innovative use of discarded waste in ceramics. Drawing On The Body is a showcase by local tattooists, graffiti and visual artists who have created ceramic painted works on Mud Rock vessels using ancient ceramic painting techniques. All exhibited pieces will be available for purchase.
Guided tour
On Oct 1, Asian Civilisations Museum will host a guided tour of the Tang Shipwreck exhibit. This will be led by ceramic masters Greg Daly, Janet DeBoos, Zhang Liming, and Mud Rock. Participants will be immersed in how historical artifacts are created and learn about Tang Dynasty artisans’ ceramic techniques. The tour will also provide participants with a breakfast picnic on the lawn at the museum.
To purchase tickets, visit here. For more information, visit claycampsingapore.com.
