A ceramic sculpture of a figure camouflaged as a peacock.

“For Show.” All images © Calvin Ma, courtesy of Modern Eden Gallery, shared with permission

The figures in Calvin Ma’s otherworldly sculptures soar through the night sky, encounter swarms of insects, or stand among tropical flowers in Blend In: Standstill at Modern Eden. The artist continues an ongoing series (previously) exploring the intense desire to belong or fit in, creating hybrid individuals that don the likenesses of myriad birds, from peacocks to owls to pigeons. In nature, feathers provide protection, camouflage, and communication with other birds; in Ma’s meticulously crafted ceramic pieces, they reflect a yearning for comfort and connection.

If you’re in San Francisco, you can visit Blend In: Standstill until November 4. See more on the artist’s website and Instagram.

 

A ceramic sculpture of a figure camouflaged as an owl.

“Sleepless”

A ceramic sculpture of a figure camouflaged as a bird between two plants.

“Standstill”

A ceramic sculpture of a figure camouflaged as a bird surrounded by flies.

“Fresh Start”

Three ceramic sculptures of a figure camouflaged as birds.

Left to right: “Safe Space,” “Wait and See,” and “It’ll Be Alright”

A ceramic sculpture of a figure camouflaged as a bird with a cactus.

“Looking Back”

Three ceramic sculptures of masks, featuring a figure camouflaged as a bird.

Left to right: “Blend In Mask: Eastern Blue Bonnet,” “Blend In Mask: Rufous-Tailed Jacamar,” and “Blend In Mask: Pigeon”

A ceramic sculpture of a figure camouflaged as a peacock.

“For Show”

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to Belong appeared first on Colossal.

©

Related Posts

Uncanny Objects by Joyce Lin Blur Distinctions Between Reality and the FantasticalUncanny Objects by Joyce Lin Blur Distinctions Between Reality and the Fantastical
Uncanny Objects by Joyce Lin Blur Distinctions...
Whether enclosed in clear acrylic or seemingly sliced from a...
Read more
In ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to BelongIn ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to Belong
Denmark’s Better Energy Charging Station Heralds an...
Since 2018, the Danish government has been inching closer to...
Read more
In ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to BelongIn ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to Belong
MMB Portfolio Asset Allocation & Performance –...
I try to limit checking my portfolio to once a...
Read more
In ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to BelongIn ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to Belong
The Joystick-shaped Screwdriver That Makes Repairing/DIY Projects...
Repair and assembly are usually framed as chores, tasks to...
Read more
Instyle Native Collection, Design Process, Photo Carol Debono | YellowtraceInstyle Native Collection, Design Process, Photo Carol Debono | Yellowtrace
Introducing Native, the Latest from Instyle’s Sustainable...
Photo by Carol Debono. Photo by Carol Debono. Native collection design inspiration...
Read more
Open plan living and dining space inside Ho Chi Minh CityOpen plan living and dining space inside Ho Chi Minh City
Space-Age Style Gets Its Groove Back in...
Maximalist design seems to be making a triumphant return to...
Read more