Eva Ye

Eva Ye’s ceramic work serves as a celebration of diversity, skillfully capturing and unravelling the nuanced interplay between identity and heritage. Born in Sydney to a Chinese immigrant family, Ye embarks on a creative journey that intimately explores her bilingual existence in both English and Cantonese, translating it into compelling visual storytelling. Her artistic practice mirrors the intricate emotions and experiences woven into her multicultural identity, manifested in three-dimensional art through figurative objects. This often involves skillful manipulation, navigating the cultural duality of identity and its physical expression. Recent highlights includes It’s a Fairy, a handbuilt figure modelled to the artist’s younger self; Stairwell Gallery group exhibition at the National Art School, New South Wales 2023 and her National Art School graduation showcase, 2023.

Artist Statement:

Eva Ye, born in 2002, is an Australian Chinese artist residing in Sydney, engaging in the realms of ceramics and drawing. Her artistic pursuits transcend personal narratives, aiming to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Ye’s current focus lies in hand-building figurative objects, stemming from the exploration of a diasporic cultural experience. Through a delicate fusion of tradition and modernity, past and present, she captures the everyday mundaneness of life. The use of paper mache in her artistic practice reflects a nuanced relationship with her younger self and responds to the recurring themes of ‘cute’ and ‘delicate’ symbolism in her art.

Serving as an homage to the West’s aesthetic impact on the East, Ye reflects on the dynamic tension of growing up ‘differently’ from peers. The concept of “inbetween” seeks to give form to the intangible, express the inexpressible, and honour the vibrant tapestry of life, weaving together the fabric of culture and identity. Each piece stands as a unique narrative, commenting on the amalgamation of cultural influences.