Q: What are the methods for making brick carving? What should we pay attention to when selecting material?
Mr. Chen: There are two methods: carving before firing and carving after firing, which can be used to make intaglio, relief, hollow carving, and figure carving. Carving before firing refers to carving on soil. Soil contains water and is easily carved and deformed. Using hard and brittle bricks, carving after firing is more challenging and mainly features lines.

I created work using both methods. For example, I just finished Chung-Shan Building, with an area of 2 cm2, using stiff tungsten steel needles.
Soil is used to create brick carving. To make brick carving better quality, I have to screen out particles and impurities in soil.

Mr. Chen’s brick carving (click to enlarge)　　　Mr. Chen’s brick carving (click to enlarge)

Mr. Chen’s brick carving (click to enlarge)　　　Mr. Chen’s brick carving (click to enlarge)

Resource:
  Interviews with Chen Forng-Shean

Compiled by: Pei-Chi, Jui-Hung   

Source of Picture: Cyberfair Photography Team