IN a rare cross-border ceramic art exhibition, five artists from the Asean region - Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia - display their works under one roof in Singapore.

And the effect is enlightening - especially to any pottery student - as the clay, their own claymaking process and the type of firing the ceramic artists use will bring about different results. And then there's all the cultural and artistic influences of their countries, explains Alvin Tan Teck Heng, representing Singapore, and who also curated the show.

"It all started when we were part of the Ring of Fire show in the Philippines in 2009. We got on so well, that I've wanted to invite them to put on a group show here," he says.