The Art of Flying: Material at the Centre

The materials Jacob Chan works with are more than just substances—they quietly reflect his identity. Chan is British with Chinese roots. Along the coasts and in the mountains of his home country, the United Kingdom, he collects sand, slate and ceramic shards—raw materials for oxides and mineral pigments—he uses to decorate his ceramics and give them an archaic feel. He also frequently uses liquid clay, known as engobes, in the decoration process. His forms, on the other hand, are inspired by traditional Chinese vessels.

More Space, More Creativity

It’s no surprise that this sensitivity to materials also shapes Chan’s experience during his flight in Lufthansa Allegris Business Class. In the cabin, his attention is immediately drawn to details: the feel of the leather, the quality of the surfaces, the precision of the craftsmanship. For Chan, these are exactly the aspects that define an object. Material, to him, is the soul—whether in a Chinese vessel or an aircraft cabin.

Chan’s seat in Lufthansa Allegris Business Class is the Extra Long Bed, which converts into a 2.2 metre-long bed. The perfect place to fully stretch out, find a comfortable position and settle into his own rhythm—a clear contrast to the often physically demanding conditions of a pottery studio. In Business Class, there’s no hot kiln, but there is the option to adjust to the perfect temperature using seat heating and cooling.

Peace and Privacy for New Inspiration

Despite the comfort, the quiet and privacy also make his seat an ideal place for focused work—and Chan uses this environment deliberately. He sketches, observes, and continues working on a smaller scale. Often with a piece of clay that he likes to carry with him when travelling, allowing him to capture forms that come to mind right away. The flight becomes a time in which ideas emerge—ideas that he will later develop further in his studio. For him, inspiration is not a single moment, but an ongoing process that continues even in the air.

Travel Hacks – What matters to Ceramic Artist Jacob Chan when Travelling

1. Use space consciously as a thinking space: 
   “When I travel, I deliberately look for moments of quiet to organise my thoughts and develop ideas further. Privacy is essential—it allows me to fully focus. In the Lufthansa Allegris Business Class, this personal space becomes my small studio, where I can sketch or even work directly with clay.”
2. Work with light, not against it: 
   “Light is essential for me to understand forms and surfaces. When I want to work on the go, I need soft, directed light that is stable and makes details visible. The lighting concept in the Lufthansa Allegris cabin supports this perfectly—it’s unobtrusive and exactly where I need it.”
3. See comfort as part of the creative process:
   “I spend many hours on uncomfortable chairs in the studio—so when I travel, I consciously pay attention to comfort and freedom of movement. For me, that’s the foundation for arriving well-rested and staying open to new ideas. The Extra Long Bed gives me exactly that space: to stretch out, relax, and also to develop flashes of inspiration further.”