2014, Stoneware, Variable
By TAY LI-CHENG, First Toa Payoh Secondary School, Art Teacher
Teachers are vessels of information, but there is much more in the pot than meets the eye. The vessels appear to be containers, but there is hardly space for anything more when the viewer lifts the lid. We tend to be so full: of our students, of our work and of our duty to serve. How much space do we leave for ourselves?
In this interactive work, I also seek to represent the varying roles in education, ranging from the fresh teacher full of hope to the fatigued school leader holding his/her own on stage. The undersides of the lids present a flipside to the somewhat positive messages on the top, painting a morerealistic picture of the challenges educators face in schools.
Lesson Ideas for “I am full,” said the vessel (2014) by Tay Li-Cheng
This lesson is suitable for students in: Secondary 3 Express/NA
Artwork title: “I am full,” said the Vessel
Name of artist: Tay Li-Cheng
School: First Toa Payoh Secondary School
Possible Guiding Questions
1. What does each of the scenes depict?
2. What differences did you observe between the scenarios above and below the lid?
3. What do you think the artist is trying to convey?
4. Why do you think the title of the work is as such?
5. If you could re-arrange the pots to tell a story, how would you do so and why?
6. Do you think the pots are meant to be used? Explain your response.
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