Kay Nguyen
Artist Statement
To create is to connect body and mind. I’ve always worked with my hands making things. I started working with clay when I was 19 years old. From the start, this primordial material was instinctive to me. There’s so much depth to the art of clay. The transformation processes encompass the elements of earth, water, wind and fire. The connotations associated with the material as well as the simple truths that parallel the nature of the clay with human beings are profound. My work includes the use of other materials but my affinity with clay endures because working with it is very centering. I can work methodically yet intuitively. Working in solitude allows me the time to draw inward and gain more clarity about myself and my world; thus, I tend to work alone, then, to reconnect to share what I created.
As I matured as a person, my perception of what it means to be an artist began to shift. I started to recognize that a major component of my work is to facilitate the creative process. As a teacher, I see myself as a conduit to channel another individual’s growth utilizing my abilities and working experience. I’ve had some wonderful connections with my students and their responses make teaching gratifying. My aim is to nurture and empower the individual through open dialogue. As they learn from me, I learn from them. When work is a labor of love, it is at a natural state. My desire is to affect the day in an artful way. Life as an artist has been a fun and meaningful adventure. I’ll just continue on the path.
Copyright © 2010, Kay Nguyen.