Studio Visit: Jynsym Ong

Whilst in Oxford in March, I had the fortune of visiting Symy Ong, a hugely talented artist, skilled potter and experienced wood firer. I have been an admirer of Symy’s work for a long time, first becoming aware of her as part of the Clay College cohort which included my studio mate Fran Savage, DYCP mentor and BCB colleague Natalia Kaspryzka and many other massively talented potters.

Symy makes works that are both sculptural and functional, her large wood fired vessels remind me of Han dynasty ‘Hunping’ (funerary vessels), skilfully thrown and adorned with hand built decoration depicting figures, Koma Inu (lion-dogs) and pagoda-esque buildings. They feel like lost artifacts that don’t belong to any one time or place specifically. In addition, she also makes beautifully crafted gas-fired tableware, which really demonstrate her precision and skill.

Symy welcomed me into her beautiful studio and over tea and satsumas we spoke about her time at Clay College, apprenticing in Japan, the trials and tribulations of wood firings and many other topics. I was so grateful that she allowed me to enter her workspace and talk with me, I find it so nourishing meeting other potters and being able to delve into their experiences. Symy showed me around her studio space, and took me through the corridors which lead to her electric kiln, archive storage, gas kiln and materials area. Walking around her space gave me a feeling of her day to day life of creating work in her studio and I loved every second.