Lin Su
Artist and Architect Lin Su (1989 Beijing, China) creates ceramic work that is a combination of her love of architecture, rare Chinese teas and her memories.
Su played around with clay when she was a small child growing up in Beijing, China, but didn’t’ take it seriously until she joined LSPS-LC in 2017. She started in the studio’s beginning class and took to wheel throwing quite naturally. She moved up to the intermediate level but soon settled in the studio’s independent study program. Most days she works the clay around her courses in print and digital media at Northwestern University.
Su’s background in architecture (a Master’s from Columbia University, 2016) has started to cross over into the delicate teacups and pots she’s been creating the past few months. Each piece becomes a structure to her; saucers, lids, stands and cups all transcend form to become a beautiful but functional construction. Together, the pieces create a narrative, and form groupings not unlike a cluster of buildings. Su is working hard to create a full set of pieces that can function at a traditional Gong Fu tea ceremony (hopefully by Chinese New Year in February). Gong Fu is a method of tea making which includes small vessels to seep and drink tea from. The point of this ceremony is to take the time to enjoy the drink, as well as the company. Small, hot batches are created for optimal taste and freshness, as well as slowing down time in people’s busy lives. Well-made and aesthetic pieces often heighten the experience, and Su likes the challenge of always creating better and more fitting pottery for the event.
Tea has always been part of Su’s life; taking the time to enjoy it with her extended family, or as a way to start out the day. Her interest was peaked after she married her husband. Her father-in-law works with Rainforest Alliance Certified organic tea farmers, and sells high quality teas in China. Su is on the receiving end of small batches of exquisite teas, and decided that her love of the drink and ceramics could create a fitting vehicle. In a way, these delicately made pieces are meant to be worthy of their contents, but also to create memories with those who share the tea.
Su is excited to continue developing single teacups as well as full sets of customary tea services. She’s started to blend American and Chinese visuals into her work; a mixture of the two cultures she now belongs to. She hopes to use the tea vessels to create a break in the day, as well as establishing new family traditions through Gong Fu. We’re excited to see what Su generates, as well as what she makes available for sale on her shelf here at the studio!