Spirit of Porcelain (Contemporary Ceramic Sculptors from Jingdezhen)

Author: Yu Shiliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book takes the bronze sculpture "Ode to Porcelain Workers" located in the People's Square of Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital, as its starting point. It provides an artistic description of Jingdezhen's manual porcelain-making techniques, folk customs, and the 10 creators of the sculpture. Accompanied by more than 300 photographs related to ceramic culture, the manuscript becomes a rich, detailed, and vividly illustrated monograph on sculpture in the history of Jingdezhen. As a significant part of ceramic art, ceramic sculpture has long been neglected in scholarly works focusing on the lives and achievements of sculptors in the porcelain capital. Most published works have been picture albums, and the publication of "The Soul of Porcelain" fills the gap in literature that records the life trajectories of ceramic sculptors.
Written in the style of elegant prose, the book effortlessly and appropriately portrays the artistic journeys of sculptors Zhou Guozhen, Zhang Yuxian, Liu Yuanchang, Tang Ziqiang, Xiong Gangru, Yao Yongkang, Lu Jun, Xu Bo, Gao Feng, and Cao Chunsheng, as well as the creation process of the bronze sculpture "Ode to Porcelain Workers," the life of ancient porcelain workers, and porcelain-making techniques. At the same time, it vividly depicts stories from folk kiln workshops and firing sites through the lens of folk narratives, presenting the enchanting and long-standing ceramic culture of Jingdezhen, the world's porcelain capital, to readers. As the author says, "Writing these words and recording my reflections is like pausing during life's journey at the ancient Lutian ferry crossing, the Watermelon Peninsula, or the Sanlü dock. I have organized, bundled, tied, and loaded my impressions, feelings, and hopes regarding porcelain, porcelain artisans, and the porcelain capital. I hope people will interpret ceramic culture more deeply and understand this porcelain capital that rivals China in fame and creates 'heavenly vessels' for the world."