A-Lei channels one key idea into his pottery – monsters aren't scary, just misunderstood. Animals and beasts become single figures, while objects like radios have human features. The sculptures range in scale from small to medium-sized, with some larger bronzes. A-Lei's process is intricate and meticulous. He starts by sketching in his notebook and sometimes on paper with ink. Then, he sculpts the figures with clay organically – i.e. they're not exact replicas of the drawings. Glazes are next. They cover a huge range of colours which he has samples of neatly organised in his studio. Then the sculptures are put in the kiln to fire. The outcome is often unpredictable – creating happy accidents along the way. Finishing touches are added at the end. Various tools scratch into the surface, and he even uses a blow torch.
