Tung Yao Ceramics – A Pottery Workshop Like No Other
Amber Lei (Second from the right) and her team at Tung Yao Ceramics
If in recent months, you’ve ever walked down the little street next to Corner Café, you will have noticed a ceramics and pottery workshop – Tung Yao Ceramics. The large glass windows display of pottery wheels and products are both intriguing and attractive to those passing by.
Tung Yao student hard at work
The first of these unique ceramic workshops was the brainchild of Amber Lei, the director of Tung Yao Ceramics, was started 3 years ago. It was so successful that she now has a workshop in Sheung Wan, one for kids in Eslite, Taikoo Shing, and a studio in Jingdezhen (China) for commercial production.
Amber discovered her artistic calling in ceramics while in the UK. Unlike in Hong Kong where art is a general subject, in UK it is separated into electives like Ceramics. Amber went on to do a degree in Ceramics at Cardiff Metropolitan University, where creativity and learning from the ground up was the order of the day.
In her workshops, children and adults can either join a 1-hour trial session or a longer course to acquire basic skills. A member subscription allows one’s use of the studio space in the Sheung Wan workshop where they can work on their individual ceramics pieces with access to all the tools, clay and equipment. The workshop has often been booked for children’s or adult private parties.
Pottery kiln ready for firing up students’ works
Student works
Admittedly, the workshop price range at Tung Yao Ceramics is higher than that of other pottery workshops in the area. Amber explained that there are a few valid reasons for this:
Tung Yao aims to provide a customized and individualized experience for each participant. A minimum of 1 tutor dedicated to 2 students in each workshop is required.
At Tung Yao students can experience the thrill of mastering the skill to shape the pottery with clay while, simultaneously, turning the wheel with the foot unlike some ceramics workshops which simply provide pre-made pots and students can only paint on them.; and
Tutor and students are constantly communicating at Tung Yao, helping students get full in-depth knowledge on ceramics-making. All tutors at Tung Yao have a wealth of experience and background in arts and ceramics.
Ceramics craft made at Tung Yao
Besides these workshops, Tung Yao Ceramics also organizes workshops to Jingdezhen, the Porcelain Capital of China, once or twice a year. The tours are family friendly and include ceramics factory visits, artist studio visit and different types of firing workshop.
Jingdezhen educational tour
So next time you happen to be stumped on what to do on a hot or rainy day, or you’re tired of overseas trips to the same touristy places, do check out the workshops and tours on offer at Tung Yao Ceramics.
Tung Yao Ceramics
Address: G/F, No. 4 Po Yan Street, Sheung Wan
Website: https://www.tungyaoceramics.com
Contact: (tel): +852 2989 2300
(Whatsapp): +852 6310 0255
(Facebook/ Ig): Tungyaoceramics
(email): workshop@tungyaoceramics.com