Ceramic art in Taiwan embraced the modern art concept later than painting and sculpturing did. The conventional perception of ceramics and high technical requirement for production made the field more difficult to entry and explore. In recent years, in the context of diversified development of ceramic art as the global trend, the development of various forms of ceramics presentation, e.g. ceramics sculpturing, conceptual ceramic art, combination of multiple media, and new media art, could also be observed in Taiwan. At this Exhibition, we commissioned several artists for new series of production, through which we attempted to stimulate reflection from all parties on creation and explored the infinite creative energy.

Materials exploration has always been a focus of creation in contemporary ceramics. The inward process of exploration has come with artists’ countless experiments on ceramic material in their creation. Nonetheless, two different approaches on ceramics creation – purely presenting ceramics itself and principally applying ceramics as a medium for presentation – leads to a broad range of various outcomes. Notably, in the academic field in Taiwan, the study and practice of “ceramic art creation” can be seen in fine arts department, sculpture department, crafts & design department, and also department of material arts & design, from whose names per se we may get the picture of development and the current scene of ceramic art in Taiwan. At the macro level, the definition of ceramic art has been reviewed, discussed, and broadened through, for instance, the movement of contemporary ceramics in Britain and the U.S., the Japanese Mingei (folk crafts) movement, and the rise of applied arts concept in Europe. The infinite possibilities of ceramic creation have been developed, with numerous experimental attempts in the dynamics between ‘concept’ and ‘materials’ perspectives.

The creation process itself is the most amazing part of ceramic arts yet may not be often seen at the show. At this Exhibition, we recorded the creation process attempting to present atmosphere of the very moments, which may extend the existence of “creation process,” although to some artists, the artist is dead when the work is done. The dialog between the “process” and “result” (i.e. videos and ceramic works) at the Exhibition space is a kind of self-reflection for the artists. Visitors are also invited to the dialogue creating their own amusement.

The environment of ceramic creation today is not isolated from the global trend. It changes and develops in different fields. The involvement of 3D-print as well as digital media in 2014 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale reflects the increasing interest in combination of ceramics, digital media and other materials. The inward exploration and outward development, maybe to the ultra-refined or rough, draw out the infinite forms of contemporary ceramics and the picture of present scene of ceramic creation in Taiwan.