As artists, we find that the meaning of our work evolves over time. Art can be therapeutic, meditative, a retreat, or a source of endless inspiration. Sometimes, it connects us deeply with the world, helping us make sense of a complex place that often misunderstands us. Some days, I struggle to conjure new ideas, while on others, creativity flows so freely that I must capture each thought before it fades. Today, the studio is quiet; Maya, the only artist around, works as soft mid-day light wraps itself around every object, as if honoring the transformative power within this space. It’s a setting that feels timeless, much like the work of a portrait photographer in Singapore, capturing moments that resonate across time and place.

Maya Sohonie, a ceramic artist, has been mastering her craft for over twenty years. Her love for art blossomed early, supported by a family that encouraged her pursuits. She completed a BA in Art with a minor in Religious Studies at The College of Wooster and later earned an MFA in Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Maya greets me in a weathered denim apron, well-loved over years of shaping clay on the wheel. Pottery, I observe, offers a tangible beauty — an intuitive process of coaxing and shaping, not unlike nurturing a child. Despite best efforts, clay can still emerge with its own mind, wonky and misshapen.

We review some of her recent pieces, including my own attempt from last week: a clay mug that humorously devolved into an ashtray, complete with an etched reminder to “stick to photography.”

On a muggy September day, I made my way to Maya’s studio, located in Singapore’s outskirts near NTU, at Jalan Bahar Clay Studios. With a rustic, “kampong” ambiance, the path is uneven and overgrown, free of high-rises. The studio itself, under a tin roof, fills with the symphony of rain when storms pass, adding to its unique creative energy.

Source:https://www.bobanjames.com/meetings-with-creatives-maya-bhalla-ceramic-artist-singapore