In the hands of artisans

From ceramists to woodworkers and homeowners taking on DIY renovations, we catch up with Singapore's talented crafters and makers.

-  JOYCE YANG

Ummuramics

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hello! My name is Ummu and I am a full-time “clay person” or, in a more professional term, ceramist. I enjoy both a good kopi peng and flat whites, and I have two cow cats.

I have enjoyed crafting since I was young. I remember drawing and entering art competitions in primary school and I was always excited about projects and homework that involved making posters.

Tell us about your first encounter with ceramics. What made you fall in love with it?

I was introduced to ceramics back in secondary school. Fortunately, I went to a school that was largely art-based and ceramics was one of the main areas of focus. I actually hated ceramics then, maybe because the instructor was so mean and I only wanted to paint.

I love painting. Long story short, my art results brought me to Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), where I thought I would be dead set on choosing painting as my major. But during my last day of an introduction to ceramics elective, my lecturer did a wheel-throwing demo and I just freaked out in awe. And that was it. I did not manage to make anything at all that day, but somehow I was determined to pick up this skill. So, with no regard for my future, I took ceramics as my major.

How did Ummuramics eventually get started then?