Victor Spinski
Artist Statement
In the later 1970s, one of my collectors commissioned me to design a non-traditional tea set. Through my research on various teapot forms, I discovered that my art shared a conceptual philosophy with the work of the Yixing artisans of eastern China. The Yxing (pronounced yesshing) artists indulged in the use of improbable material, such as tree trunks, disfigured branches, fruits and rocks, in designing their teapot forms. The execution of these forms was exquisite, both in design and craftsmanship. While the Yixing artists inspire me, I do not recreate or copy their work. My aesthetic lies with industrial society's utilitarian materials. I replicate styrofoam, plastic, stone, glass, paper, cardboard, wood, and an assortment of metals. Where the Yixing artists seek tranquility, order, and peace in their forms, my work shows action, disorder, and hurried appearance. Within this purposeful chaos, I strive to achieve unity and order.
