ournal

A PORTRAIT OF ANTHONY FOO

 "All That Remains Are Summer Grasses"
Work by Anthony Foo
2007 Stoneware clay - Raku; natural bamboo handles, waxed linen cord
Collection of 4 vases (winter, spring, summer, fall) 22”H x 30”W x 12”D

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39 - The Art-To-Art Palette 2007-08 Fall/Winter Edition
 si^n herit^ge pl^ys m^in
role in his works of ^rt
nthony Foo draws from his Asian background
@ to create his ceramic sculptures from his
training in the traditional Japanese swordsmanship.
His works have a different meaning to him than
what the viewer’s eye may see; moreover, each one
having its own story which takes him further back to
his ancestral origin; those former earthly souls who
have contributed to Foo's human artistic symmetry.
So very often we are too afraid to
undertake our passions and strive to
make a go of it. For Foo, it was his
creative side, which he stifled until the
call came, and eventually he took it
upon himself to tune into that
subdued need, and grant his innate
imagination to flourish in his
ceramic sculptures.
Artist Foo grew up in Malaysia in
Chinese family. Art was an accepted
norm for children, and it was part of
the school’s curriculum. Painting,
drawing, wood carving, block
printing, basketry, metal-working,
tie and dye, screen printing, but
there was no ceramics.
“I remembered seeing a potter’s
wheel, the one where you have to use
your foot to kick, but no one taught it,”
he said.
Once reaching young adulthood;
a “meaningful job was expected.
Everyone was clamoring to be
EMBRACE YOUR DESTINY
engineers, doctors, architects, business
people, and scientists,” he said.
Although, his family did not
discourage him from art, he knew
he had to make a living. Therefore,
his clay art interest was shelved
away.
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"One other thing stirs me when I look
back at my youthful days, the fact
that so many people gave me something
or were something to me without knowing it."
Albert Schweitzer {1875-1965} Humanitarian, 1952 Nobel Peace Prize
Foo went on to become a graphic
designer which involved him to be in
front of the computer all day. “I found
myself needing to do something tangible,
something that I can get my hands into, to
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feel it, touch it, turn it around, look at it
from all angles.”
According to him, his work was too
much virtual and he needed more
occupational balance. He began his
search which led him to Irvine Fine Arts
Center. “I went to check it out and started
right away in my first ceramics class.” That
was over twenty years ago, but the
older Foo today is much more wiser in
his decision-making, however his
artworks reveal the youthfulness of a
Raphael. “I believe creating art for the joy
of it is the purest transfer of one person’s
innermost feelings into his medium.”
"Embrace Your Destiny" has three
main branches, similar to a tree. The
First is your true destiny; Second is
what you think you are; and Third is
what other people think who you
are or should be. "It is a painful
sculpture, physically because of the
thorns. I have endured many hardships
and pain with my calling, but through
it all, I have achieved true happiness,"
said Anthony.
He further seeks knowledgeable
understanding about what he
conveys in his works through
universal questions: Who am I?
Why are we here? What is life?
Those answers are taken from an
abstraction and given a form.
In the work, "All That Remains
Are Summer Grasses," artist Foo
follows a belief that focuses on
achievement; the sum total at the
end. "Regardless of our successes or
what we have accumulated in life; in the
end we lose it all, and only the summer
grasses prevail," he said.
Foo further adds support to his
assessment by relating to the
troubled times in Japanese history.
"There was so much warfare. The
2007-08 Fall/Winter Edition

Sancturary
castles fell, armies faded away, but the
grasses remain." He includes more
association that deals with his martial
arts sword training. "Life and death is
determined in a split second after the blade
is drawn. It has shown me how precious life
is and how quickly it can be taken away. The
study of any martial arts is to preserve and
protect life; not to harm it."
For several years, Foo has been using
paper clay to make his sculptures. This
medium has given him the freedom to
go beyond the bounds of traditional
clay bodies. He is able to make larger
and more delicate pieces in less time,
with less warp age and cracking, and
with superior green ware strength.
"Sanctuary" is another work that
falls within a self-portrayal on how
others see us, and how we see them.
Foo expressed, "We hardly penetrate the
armor that surrounds us as humans. We
protect our vulnerabilities, and thusly we
shield people from our true depth." In this
piece, he illustrates within the confine
of the "armor's protection, we can begin to
explore and search for the purpose of our
being, just like the tentacles of the anemone
searching for food."
The Japanese title for “Becoming
One” is Ken Shin Tai Ichi, meaning:
Sword, Spirit, Body Becoming One. In
Martial Arts, the achievement of unity
with the mind/spirit, body and the
weapon used {which body can serve as the
defense tool} is the central doctrine in this
training.
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Many moons ago, if I stayed on that path, I could have
when I was juggling probably easily juggled Wall Street’s
three business majors, books.
accounting, Fortunately, the environment of
administration and higher educational arena offered my
management, I became creative/right side a ‘full course meal’ of
engrossed in Maslow’s opportunities. The exposure to the arts
theory relating to provided me with ‘new eyes’ - eyes to
human behavior. In a be able to recognize not only great
nutshell and not in works of art, but also a front and center
exact order, but we as view of the soul of the creator. Happily,
humans all want and Anthony Foo has rewarded me with
need, however we have this self-assurance in his works, as I see
to first satisfy the his hands shaping every curve,
basics and work our stretching the clay to a very thin
way to the top, the porcelain fineness, and then applying
higher needs. Therefore the colors of grandeur.
and ‘starring’ at the In the time I spent in communication
bottom are a few, such with artist Foo, he has led me back to
as, must breathe, need my Should I or Should I not roads.
food and water, sleep, Unfortunately, I cannot turn back the
and sex is somewhere on the clock. However in this present time, I
Physiological triangle. do know, we now share a common
Going up the ladder, there is Safety bond, in fact, possibly a friendship of
which are a gambit of things, but some brotherhood expressed in the words by
are: secure employment, good health Joseph Conrad {1857-1924} a polish-
and property. Next rung is Love/ born British writer, sailor and explorer:
Belongings. This would be good “I don’t like work, no man does,
friendship, tight-knit and healthy but I like what is in work; the
family, and more sex, but intimate. chance to find yourself, not for
Another hop up deals with Esteem. I others, but what no other man can
can relate to a few of these: respect for ever know.”
others and their respect, self-confidence, To learn more this man who has
achievement. Presto! We are at the top- uncorked his vintage bottle of fine
Self Actualization, and these few are talent, to let his creativeness flow to
also not in any specific order: lack of come full circle, see: www.anthonyfoo.com
prejudice, able to accept the facts, a and more works on next page.
whiz at problem-solving, strong † By Ben Rayman
morality or got
the faith, and
creativity.
I know when
I was studying
Abraham
Maslow, his
concepts were
so deep and
detailed, I do
recall it made
my analytical/
left side of my
brain race with
excitement, like
being behind
Becoming One
the wheel,
crossing the
finish line at the
Indy 500. And
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Front view BACK view

“Past Lives” began as a series of pod sculptures entitled: “Spirit Vessels” by artist
Foo. “It was my way of giving answers to the questions I still carry within me.” His
Buddhist faith became a strong influence in his work in his adult life. “I began to
appreciate the philosophy of the teachings.” This work is the result of his self-
actualization questioning , Who am I? What am I? Have I been here before?
The Gate

Rocks, mountains, trees and large

objects, in the Asian culture belief
are considered to be inhabited by
spirits, and are to be worshiped.
“The Gate” is an entrance to another place. Sometimes we have clear shots to our
“Mountain Spirit” projects a
destination, and other times we are confronted by barriers, mostly self-imposed. Life
beautiful quietness of these natural
has many gates, we must determine whether they are real or imagined to overcome
earth formations.
the bondage that restricts our confidence to follow our life goals.

42 - The Art-To-Art Palette Main Section 2007-08 Fall/Winter Edition