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Appeared as a photo model in the magazines in her youth, Lie Fhung (born in Jakarta, 1969) studied ceramic art in Bandung Institute of Technology. However, when her name was just came out as a promising ceramics artist after her solo exhibition in Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta and Galeri Soemardja, Bandung, in 1996, Lie Fhung changed course. Addicted to computer and the internet, from 1998 to 1999 Lie Fhung worked as a toys designer, based in Jakarta. For this job, she often traveled to Shanghai and Hong Kong. In 2000, she was based in Shanghai and then in 2001 she was relocated to Hong Kong. After about 9 years disappeared from the Indonesian art world, she is now back in Jakarta with 3 exhibitions in the past 3 months. What are her latest activities? Fhung talked with Amir Sidharta in this edition's 'Special Coverage'.
Fhung, the title of your exhibition this time ~flight~, what is the meaning of it?
In the smallest and most personal context, with ~flight~ I am taking off towards being my true self in the fullest.
In the largest context, it could be seen as a metaphor for an individual breaking free amidst the daily, mundane conventional demands from his/her society.
In this exhibition you show variants of 5 installation works: 'Invisible Cages', 'Struggle', 'Self-Exiled', 'Wandering Souls', and 'Soaring'. How do these works related to the theme of ~flight~?
These works symbolise the process towards the take off mentioned above. Various obstructions to overcome were depicted through the bar-less cages (in the 'Invisible Cages') - because a lot of these obstructions that tied down and slowed down the process of 'taking off' came from within the self, which have to be deal with alone. And so on and so forth until finally reaching the 'Soaring' - ready to take off and fly...
Ceramics is used in a lot of your works. This is not surprising as you studied in the Fine Art Dept. of ITB to be a ceramics artist. However, what special characteristic of ceramics that attract you the most?
Clay is a very versatile medium, it can be shaped and fashioned into resembling almost any shape and materials. It is a very flexible material which you can explore through the types of clay used, the texture plays, and the glaze. The possibilities are endless. A life time is not enough to fully mastering the true width and depth of ceramics!
How does the use of ceramics support your work?
I use ceramics whenever necessary, according to the concept of the work. It could be because ceramic is suitable for certain work in the sense of the working process and the end result. It could also because the symbolic value of ceramics, for example: ceramics is transformed from soft, impermanent clay to be hard and permanent through the firing process which requires passion and patience. In the works in ~flight~ , these characteristic of ceramics is in line with the concept of the work which talks about struggle and private wars before finally managed to claiming one's true self. Baptised by fire, so to speak.
Besides, I have always been interested in the translucent property of porcelain when made very thin. This translucent effect shows the layers of the clay and the imprint of the process beautifully. There is also a mysterious, dreamy and ethereal feel to it.
For stoneware, I like it for its solid, sturdy feel and look. In this ~flight~, stoneware is used on the pedestals that support the porcelain wings in the 'Soaring' dan 'Wandering Souls 2" series.
You also used other materials. What are other materials that you like and often used in your works? How do the properties of these materials contribute in the expression of the art work you created?
At the moment I like working with wire and soft-metal such as copper, brass, aluminum a lot. In ~flight~, the stainless-steel wire is used to support the wings at certain height/distance from the base. It's also used to give the impression of lightness of being, of soaring flowingly. The wire here is also symbolising the exploration process which sometimes goes round and round. It functions also as a connector between those above (wings; freedom, hopes and imagination) with those below (earth; reality).
Wire can be shaped quite easily using hands or with the help of a pair of pliers. The resulting lines and curves are often very expressive and retain the sense of spontaneity. There is a sense of dynamic movement there. In the 'Soaring' series, there is actually movement: the wings perched on the tip of the wire are swaying by the lightest breeze - this is made possible by the springy property of the wire used.
In the past 3-4 months, suddenly you appeared in 3 exhibitions consequently after 'disappeared' for quite a long time in the Indonesian art world. What's happening?
Well, as shown through the ~flight~, after years of wandering and exploring, I finally am back to the art world, my true field - which I doubted before. Now I have decided to be an artist: creating works of art is my priority.
When did that happen - the doubt to be an artist? When was your last exhibition before this come back?
Hmmm... it happened gradually, without I fully realised it. My last exhibition before was in the 1996, at Galeri Soemardja ITB. In 1997 I got acquainted with the world of computer and internet. I was very curious about it and very eager to explore it. I learned by trials and errors and spent more and more time with my computer than in the ceramics studio. In the studio at that time I enjoyed making accessories more than art work. There the seeds of doubt began to grow: is it true that the art world - especially ceramics - is my 'vocation'? Furthermore, at the time there were a lot of other interesting distractions as well - a lot of them related to the design world. Probably I was just immature then, I was not ready to be committed and I also felt that I was still so inexperienced. heheheh... I wanted to see the world and try more things. I wanted to see what my options are.
You wanted to know what your options were? What were those options then?
It turned out that there were many things that I could do which I enjoyed doing. All of them are still related to art and design, and artcraft. For example designing and making accessories, graphic design, website design, book binding and box making - which results are fully functional. And of course, creating works of art was also one of the options.
What did you do there?
I worked as a toys designer, designing soft toys such as teddy bears, easter bunnies, etc. I was also responsible for any design-related work i.e. designing hang-tags, labels, display boxes, packaging, logo, etc.
Only after I quit working full-time then I really had the time and energy to create works of art. Now I'm also working as a freelance webdesigner - dividing my time between creating works of art and design while keep on exploring. All is enjoyable and complementing each other.
Have you ever totally stopped creating works of art at all?
Well, not really. Because of the limitation of time, space and energy while working full-time, the process of creating works of art then was very slow, inconsistent and difficult.
And now?
Now after I have decided to be an artist and dare to claim that I am an artist, I am still open to the use of various materials and to other activities within art and design. But the priority is clear now: to actively creating works of art - to materialise my creative and artistic drives. So first and foremost, I am an artist.
What is the meaning of creating works of art for you?
It's the way to live for me! (as opposed to merely a way of life for me). Whatever I do, it will always be infused with my artistic nature. It's my 'destiny' so to speak - though actually I don't like the term 'destiny' as it seems so passive. By creating works of art, I feel alive. Without it, I am nothing... Regardless of how is the result, creating works of art is an undeniable demand from within myself. I was born to create, so to speak. If I don't create something, I don't feel myself.
Any plan to come back to homeland for good?
Wah... so far I have none. I'll still be living in Hong Kong for a while. In the future, I hope to try to live in other countries. I still want to see the world! Haha!
2005©Amir Sidharta
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