Silver Award at the Min-Art Cup
In the 4th Fujian “Min-Art Cup” Ceramic Art Creative Design Competition, my entry — a set of iron-red gold-ring glaze vases titled “A Flourishing China, A Peaceful Nation” — won the Silver Award.
The set consists of six vases — one large and five small — each embodying a wealth of technical information. Every vase uses a distinct technique, together forming a vivid and richly varied scene. The glaze characteristics of the five small vases are as follows: 1) predominantly red overall; 2) red at top and bottom with a black ground, red flowers, and gold rings in the middle; 3) red at the top and a black ground with red flowers and gold rings at the bottom; 4) a black ground with red flowers and gold rings at the bottom and predominantly black at the top; 5) a black ground throughout, with red flowers and gold rings evenly distributed. The large vase presents a gradient black-ground red-flower effect from top to bottom, with the addition of greenery to bring the composition to life.
In short, it comes down to controlling the number, size, and position of the red flowers that form on the glaze surface, producing different artistic effects to meet a variety of aesthetic preferences.
For a science-minded man, carving out a place in the world of arts and crafts is no easy task — it is hard for a discerning eye to fully recognize a thoroughbred that crosses disciplinary boundaries. Still, I will continue exploring this solitary path forward, without regret!
