About the Artist
Cindal Ma is a multidisciplinary artist and visual storyteller of Vietnamese and Chinese descent. Their practice exists at the fluid intersection of art, design, and narrative. Through a dedicated exploration of form, Cindal seeks to capture the nuances of the "in-between"—the delicate spaces where our internal worlds meet the external environment.
With a technical foundation built over several years, Cindal utilizes a variety of handbuilding techniques to create tactile figures and forms. Her work is characterized by a sensitive use of multiple mediums, often relying on the interplay of natural light and shadow to define the final character of her sculptures. By shaping these physical narratives, she invites viewers to reflect on the evolving relationship we hold with ourselves and the world around us.
Cindal’s work has been recognized and exhibited throughout California, with notable showcases at The Marin Society of Artists in San Rafael,CA, Chopsticks Alley in San Jose, CA, and The Sacramento Fine Arts Center in Sacramento, CA.
Through her craft, she remains committed to the idea that art is a bridge—a way to translate the intangible complexities of identity into a shared visual language.
Artist Statement
Using the human body as both muse and map, I approached this collection with a deep curiosity about the relationship between my physical self and the world around me. What began as a technical exploration of natural light and shadow organically transformed into an intimate dialogue with clay, a medium that demands both patience and presence.
This body of work reflects definitive moments in my journey through the "spaces in between." By slowly shaping coils into specific structures, I found myself navigating the delicate balance of the material: testing the boundaries of gravity, respecting the clay’s inherent limitations, and occasionally pushing beyond them.
Clay became a healing playground. A medium where the physical act of building mirrored the internal act of understanding. This collection marks the beginning of an inquisitive journey into self-perception and materiality, an exploration that remains at the heart of my practice today.