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Ceramic photos by Zou Chen.
Desktop desk photos by Inga Books.
Thoughts on Clay is a book of artist Zou Chen’s ceramics, cell phone photos of her daily walks to the studio, and short writings–thoughts–on clay.
During these walks, Chen records her wandering thoughts as they drift from ceramics, to AI, to the nature of spontaneity. She picks up plants, stones, and discarded items that she includes in her work once she arrives. This improvised collaboration with her environment allows her to be surprised by her own practice. She maintains this flexibility in all interactions with her work, regularly turning objects on their side, flipping them upside down.
In the design of this book I aimed to mimic the rhythm of Chen’s experience thinking through and about clay on her walks. The short lines of text float across each page, carrying the reader from photo to photo, each visually rhyming with the ones before and after.
Describing this publication, Chen says
In this book, I probe the profundities of existence and creation, exemplified through the tactile dance with clay. Embracing spontaneity, I sculpt my consciousness onto this receptive canvas. Unexpected turns, beautiful in their unpredictability, guide my process. I venture into the unknown, allowing the work to grow organically, dictating its own form. Found objects, activated within this discourse, share their unique stories. This voyage is not merely about creating art—it's a spirited exploration of life, philosophy, and the cosmos, a testament to the thrilling uncertainty and joy of being an artist. It's my quest for self-discovery, a story of ceaseless becoming.