James Seet
Air Muka
James Seet
150cm (Diameter) various height
Ceramics
2025
The Installation Air Muka: "A Reflection on Identity and Conformity"In a world increasingly shaped by conformity, Air Muka invites viewers to examine the fragile balance between individuality and collective identity. Inspired by the Malay expression referring to face, dignity, and public perception, the installation asks us to consider how much of ourselves is truly our own, and how much is shaped by the roles we are expected to play.
Suspended from above, a cascade of ceramic raindrops falls in organic, unpredictable rhythm. At first glance, each droplet appears identical, but upon closer inspection, they are subtly different in shape and surface. At the base of every raindrop lies a face, repeated across the installation, a mirrored likeness that challenges the notion of uniqueness. Below, a seamless circular mirror set into a raised platform reflects the falling droplets, drawing the viewer into the work. As one approaches, their own reflection merges with the countless faces, prompting a quiet confrontation. Are we truly distinct, or merely one among many shaped by external pressures and social constructs? The soft glow beneath the platform suggests illumination and self-awareness, offering a meditative space that encourages introspection. Yet Air Muka does not offer clarity or resolution. Instead, it leaves the viewer suspended in a space of questioning—to pause, to reflect, and to reconsider the silent forces that shape how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others.
Air Muka
James Seet
150cm (Diameter) various height
Ceramics
2025
The Installation Air Muka: "A Reflection on Identity and Conformity"In a world increasingly shaped by conformity, Air Muka invites viewers to examine the fragile balance between individuality and collective identity. Inspired by the Malay expression referring to face, dignity, and public perception, the installation asks us to consider how much of ourselves is truly our own, and how much is shaped by the roles we are expected to play.
Suspended from above, a cascade of ceramic raindrops falls in organic, unpredictable rhythm. At first glance, each droplet appears identical, but upon closer inspection, they are subtly different in shape and surface. At the base of every raindrop lies a face, repeated across the installation, a mirrored likeness that challenges the notion of uniqueness. Below, a seamless circular mirror set into a raised platform reflects the falling droplets, drawing the viewer into the work. As one approaches, their own reflection merges with the countless faces, prompting a quiet confrontation. Are we truly distinct, or merely one among many shaped by external pressures and social constructs? The soft glow beneath the platform suggests illumination and self-awareness, offering a meditative space that encourages introspection. Yet Air Muka does not offer clarity or resolution. Instead, it leaves the viewer suspended in a space of questioning—to pause, to reflect, and to reconsider the silent forces that shape how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others.
Heaven & Hell
James Seet
56(H) x 71(W) x 151.2(D)cm
Ceramics
2025
There are always two sides to a story, two polar ends of every experience: joy and pain, presence and absence, the visible and the hidden. This installation explores that tension, drawing from the philosophy of Yin and Yang: opposing forces that are deeply connected and constantly shifting. Black and white are used not just as contrasts, but as complements, each space intercepting the other, in search of balance.
For the artist, this past year embodied both extremes. There was the dream of creating full-time and traveling for art, but also moments of betrayal, loss, and grief. The work reflects a search for balance, shaped by both joy and hardship. The two ornate frames face each other, linked by a sculptural path. Every angle offers a new perspective. It’s not just about what you see, but what you carry.
Heaven & Hell
James Seet
56(H) x 71(W) x 151.2(D)cm
Ceramics
2025
There are always two sides to a story, two polar ends of every experience: joy and pain, presence and absence, the visible and the hidden. This installation explores that tension, drawing from the philosophy of Yin and Yang: opposing forces that are deeply connected and constantly shifting. Black and white are used not just as contrasts, but as complements, each space intercepting the other, in search of balance.
For the artist, this past year embodied both extremes. There was the dream of creating full-time and traveling for art, but also moments of betrayal, loss, and grief. The work reflects a search for balance, shaped by both joy and hardship. The two ornate frames face each other, linked by a sculptural path. Every angle offers a new perspective. It’s not just about what you see, but what you carry.
Silent Trophy
James Seet
165 x 98 x 66 cm
Ceramic and Scrap Metal
2024
Artist Statement
“Silent Trophy” is a powerful sculpture mourning the extinction of the Sumatran rhino in Malaysia. Made from scrap metal and featuring a gun aimed at the rhino’s head, it symbolizes human greed and disregard for life. The rhino’s ceramic head, glazed in crimson, evokes the bloodshed of its demise, while its rigid face stands as a haunting trophy of destruction. This artwork reflects on the loss of a species and calls for a reckoning, urging us to confront our role in the extinction and act to prevent further harm.
ISSUES: Plastic City II
James Seet
63(H) x 32(W) x 33(D)cm
Ceramic
2024
The artwork confronts the global plastic pollution crisis, highlighting the harmful impacts of microplastics on wildlife, human health, and ecosystems. This ceramic vessel resembles a geode with an exterior of rough textures, while its interior reveals plastic items, symbolizing the overwhelming invasion of plastics in our lives. The contrast between beauty and destruction invites viewers to reflect on their roles in this crisis. By choosing recycling and reusing, we can help restore our planet. This piece urges each of us to take responsibility, embracing sustainable actions to reduce our environmental footprint and move toward a cleaner future.
ISSUES: Plastic City II
James Seet
63(H) x 32(W) x 33(D)cm
Ceramic
2024
The artwork confronts the global plastic pollution crisis, highlighting the harmful impacts of microplastics on wildlife, human health, and ecosystems. This ceramic vessel resembles a geode with an exterior of rough textures, while its interior reveals plastic items, symbolizing the overwhelming invasion of plastics in our lives. The contrast between beauty and destruction invites viewers to reflect on their roles in this crisis. By choosing recycling and reusing, we can help restore our planet. This piece urges each of us to take responsibility, embracing sustainable actions to reduce our environmental footprint and move toward a cleaner future.
ISSUES: Stray Cats
James Seet
38(H) x 26(W) x 26(D)cm
Ceramic
2024
“Caring for a pet is a commitment to their well-being, a truth I encountered firsthand when I took in two stray kittens. Their transformation from vulnerable strays to beloved companions highlighted the urgent issue of stray cat populations and their impact on our environment. Stray cats, as natural hunters, disrupt local ecosystems and contribute to shelter overcrowding. Through my ceramic art, I seek to raise awareness of this complex issue, encouraging conversations around responsible pet ownership and compassionate intervention. Together, we can help create safer communities for stray cats and support a healthier balance within our ecosystems.”
ISSUES: Stray Cats
James Seet
38(H) x 26(W) x 26(D)cm
Ceramic
2024
“Caring for a pet is a commitment to their well-being, a truth I encountered firsthand when I took in two stray kittens. Their transformation from vulnerable strays to beloved companions highlighted the urgent issue of stray cat populations and their impact on our environment. Stray cats, as natural hunters, disrupt local ecosystems and contribute to shelter overcrowding. Through my ceramic art, I seek to raise awareness of this complex issue, encouraging conversations around responsible pet ownership and compassionate intervention. Together, we can help create safer communities for stray cats and support a healthier balance within our ecosystems.”
ISSUES: Shark Finning 2
James Seet
51(H) x 30(W) x 30(D)cm
Ceramic
2024
The artwork exposes the cruelty of killing sharks for their fins, highlighting the urgent need to preserve marine biodiversity. This geode-like vessel represents the ocean’s beauty, with vibrant sharks swimming toward the vessel’s mouth, only to lose their fins, depicted like sharp teeth around the opening. This transformation captures the brutality of shark finning, which is driven by demand for shark fin soup and threatens shark populations. Sharks are vital to ocean ecosystems, and their loss destabilizes marine life. Through this piece, the artist urges respect for these creatures and an end to the unnecessary cruelty of finning.
ISSUES: Shark Finning 2
James Seet
51(H) x 30(W) x 30(D)cm
Ceramic
2024
The artwork exposes the cruelty of killing sharks for their fins, highlighting the urgent need to preserve marine biodiversity. This geode-like vessel represents the ocean’s beauty, with vibrant sharks swimming toward the vessel’s mouth, only to lose their fins, depicted like sharp teeth around the opening. This transformation captures the brutality of shark finning, which is driven by demand for shark fin soup and threatens shark populations. Sharks are vital to ocean ecosystems, and their loss destabilizes marine life. Through this piece, the artist urges respect for these creatures and an end to the unnecessary cruelty of finning.
