“Squared Bottle,” (c. 2000s) is a complex and distinctive exploration for Wayne Ngan. This gas kiln-fired stoneware piece was meticulously constructed by throwing clay into the shape of a bowl. Then, using a paddle to compress the form and shape the neck and mouth.

Ngan’s use of a thick white glaze gives the piece a glossy-like texture throughout. To achieve the checkerboard pattern, Ngan employed the technique of wax resist, blocking out the pattern by waxing over squares of color before dipping the work in white. Ngan appreciated the spontaneity of making, embracing the traces of white glaze that are speckled on the surface of the work.