Originals by HYPEND - Q&A With Man Yau
If you’re an avid reader of our blog, you already know that we have joined forces with Saucony Originals for a community-driven series called Originals by Hypend that features some of the people that make Helsinki move.
The fourth talent in the series highlights Man Yau, a very talented ceramic artist born and raised in Helsinki in the 90s. Her work has been showcased in the most prominent galleries locally and internationally - including a group exhibition at the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, California.
In your own words, who are you and what do you do?
I’m Man, a Helsinki-based artist, spending most of my days with my hands dirty from different materials such as clay or metal dust - I work with installations and sculptures.
How did you begin as an artist?
The journey of becoming an artist was quite linear in the sense that I knew from a really young age that I wanted to work with my hands and do something creative. I started studying ceramics and glass blowing at Aalto University when I had just turned 18, and now I’m just finalizing my second master’s degree from Uniarts. The shift from crafts(wo)man to contemporary art happened gradually too, each project started to become more conceptual rather than just haptical. I guess my first real-deal artwork was a film called Porcelain Decks, made in collab with Cocoa over a decade ago.
Who or what inspires your work?
I get inspired by my surroundings, whether human-made physical spaces or social situations/interactions. I don’t have specific idols etc., but I follow closely the process of interesting artists such as Lap-See Lam and Candice Lin, curatorial practice by Nimco Kulmiye Hussein, or new - out of conventional institutional - spaces, for example just recently opened art space in Helsinki, Pitted Dates. Just to name a few things.
What’s your favorite form of art to express yourself?
Sculpture, installations, three-dimensional forms. I wish I’d be a painter tho, with less stuff to store.
Where do you draw inspiration from for your personal style? How would you describe your style?
Quality & Practicality: when working I need to have safety gear, and when off-duty I want to look like I’m off-duty. It may be as my work requires such dirty and dusty workwear, I guess I need some elegance to balance that roughness.
Vibes on Saucony?
Loved throwing clay with them hah! <3
Hypend classic: Best food joint in Helsinki?
For comfort food, Singapore Hot Wok does the job. And for special events w/ loved ones, I’d probably head to Sake Bar in Kruununhaka.
The sneaker highlighted in the article is the Saucony Shadow 5000 in Navy/Grey
Find Man Yau on Instagram @manyau_helsinki
And visit her website here: manyau.fi