a chinwag with ceramicist vipoo srivilasa about exploring selfhood through sculpture

What can art reveal about ourselves? Whether it be the different colours of the kaleidoscope of our personalities or the memories tucked away for a rainy day, art has the power to say the things that words sometimes can’t. Top-notch artist Vipoo Srivilasa’s new exhibition The Things We Keep – showing from November 12th to December 12th at Sydney’s N.Smith Gallery – is all about using ceramic sculpture as an exploration for the hopes, worries, relationships and memories we carry inside of us. We caught up with Vipoo for a chat about the new work and how it all came to be.L: Self Portrait 8, 2026; R: Self Portrait 7, 2026.

Tell us about your new exhibition The Things We Keep. The Things We Keep is a very personal exhibition about the things we carry with us through life. Not just physical objects, but also memories, hopes, worries, relationships and experiences that shape who we are. I've been thinking about how we all have this invisible collection of things inside us. Some bring us joy, some make us feel vulnerable, and some we don't even realise we're holding onto. Through these ceramic sculptures, I'm exploring different parts of myself, but I hope people will also recognise something of their own lives in them. Although the exhibition deals with personal and sometimes emotional subjects, there's still plenty of tenderness and joy. I always want my work to make people feel welcome.L: Self Portrait 9, 2026; R: Self Portrait 6, 2026.

Your ceramic sculptures are beautiful portals to ideas of family, belonging and memory. What are these characters trying to tell us? I think they're telling us that it's OK to be many different things at once. We can be strong and vulnerable, happy and worried, confident and uncertain. All these feelings are part of being human. Some characters represent different sides of my personality, such as the Dreamer, the Worrier, the Lover, the Worker and the Optimist. They're almost like little self-portraits, each holding a different part of who I am. I also think about the invisible connections between people, particularly family, love and shared memories. I don't want to tell viewers exactly what to feel. I'd rather they look at a character and think, "Oh, that's a little bit like me!" Or perhaps it reminds them of someone they love. For me, that's when my work becomes meaningful.L: Self Portrait 5, 2026; R: Self Portrait 2, 2026.

How do the sculptures come together? My sculptures usually begin with an idea, a feeling or a story I want to tell. I then start sketching and thinking about how to turn that idea into a character. I mainly work with clay, which is a beautiful but sometimes challenging material. There's a lot of hand-building, adding details and developing the character's personality through its body language, and colour. I love using blue and white patterns, flowers and gold details. These have become part of my visual language. However, in this new series of works, I've been exploring colour much more. It's been both fun and challenging to experiment with a wider range of colours after so many years of working mainly with blue and white. Ceramics also teaches you patience. You can't rush everything. The clay needs time to dry, and the firing process always brings a little uncertainty.L: Self Portrait 10, 2026; R: Self Portrait 4, 2026.

What accompanies you while you make art? It really depends on what I'm doing! When I'm working on repetitive tasks, like building or painting, I love listening to Dharma talks or audiobooks. They keep my mind occupied while my hands are busy. But when I'm designing or thinking about what to make, I prefer silence. I find that I need a quieter space to let ideas develop. I suppose different stages of making require different kinds of attention. Sometimes I want something to listen to, and sometimes I just want to hear my own thoughts.L: Self Portrait 1, 2026; R: The Love Bringer, 2026.

What kinds of personalities do the sculptures possess? They all have different personalities, just like people! Some are playful and cheeky, others are thoughtful, gentle or a little anxious. I like the idea that each character has its own inner world. What I find interesting is that none of these personalities exists entirely on its own. I can be a dreamer one day and an overthinker the next. Sometimes I'm both at the same time! I think learning to accept all these different sides of ourselves is important. I don't know which one you feel most connected to, so I've left that open rather than choosing for you.L: The Healing Keeper, 2026; R: The Prosperity Giver, 2026.

What's your most treasured memory from putting together The Things We Keep? I think one of the most memorable experiences has been challenging myself to work with colour. Stepping into a whole new world of colour has been exciting but also a little scary! The biggest challenge has been finding a way to make these new colours feel like my own. There's something thrilling about taking risks and stepping outside your comfort zone. You never quite know what will happen, and that's part of the excitement. Another important part of making this exhibition has been allowing myself to be vulnerable. These works are very personal, and sharing my feelings and different sides of myself through my sculptures isn't always easy. But I think that's what makes this exhibition meaningful to me. It's not just about making beautiful objects. It's also about being brave enough to share something of myself with others.

For more arty chats, spy our chinwag with ceramicist Anya Sonechko or check out our chat with crafty diy biz FunkyFunYou. Plus, sign up to our newsletter for more goodness.