2017

About My Creation

I was honored to have been awarded the first “Ceramics Achievement Award” since last July I retired from National Taiwan University of Arts. I am very happy to get approval for a lifetime of hard work and hope my father and Professor Suzuki Osamu in heaven will be proud of me and thank for the support and affirmation given by the selection committee and New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum.
My all-time preference and yearning for the Nature comes from my childhood spent in the rural village. It is unforgettable to me of the ever-changing scenery throughout the time and magnificent nature landscape that always fascinates me. The landscape and weather hence naturally becomes the source of my inspiration on artistic creation.
The vast mountain range and grandiose mountain peaks therefore are often the theme of my creation to express the open-minded and tolerant attitude as well as upward and forward-looking state of mind. And with the undulating hills I present the serenity and comfort. Other examples include the clouds idling in the sky to create the unrestricted and soft aroma, ripples of water to represent the bright and joyful mood, and the bubbling spring to imply the exuberance of life. Whilst sometimes I intend to jump out from the reality, using the sandy clay and smooth glazing to demonstrate the variation of ceramic material’s presentation. The curvy outline of clay builds up a space full of wonder and mysteries; or the thick and solid body reveals the strong vitality embedded in the ceramic blocks.
How to present the magnificent beauty and grand variation of the Nature with limited three-dimensional space has always been the topic in mind when I am in the creation process. It is hence very often my work attempts to capture the grace and comfortableness of the Nature. A particular moment or a certain part of the natural landscape is represented via the clay; whilst through the clay I convey my affection and concern for the Nature, with the hope that in our daily life space, I would still able to wander in the stunning natural landscape. On the other hand, I also would like to raise the awareness of environment protection and call for people’s care and passion eventually to re-harmonize the co-existence of human beings and the Mother Nature.
As for the form of my works, I dissect and partially isolate these natural elements in clay. In terms of forms and shapes, there is always a regularity and simplicity in my works. The arc shape outline of my works symbolizes the vitality and plenty of the Land. And the sharp cut side against the gentle streamline of surface, conflicting yet compromising, creates distinctive serenity and harmony which also is one major feature of the design of my works. The subtle differences of shapes, colors, and textures can be found only upon close examination. Glossy glazing, for instance, against the silty grog is to create different surfaces and luminosity. The forms are always organic in nature, representing the vitality of life force. Some works are made by wood-firing, which gives the effect of smoking and firing marks as well as ash glazes on the surface, infusing the beauty of natural tranquility and rustic austerity.
We, humans, are the sons and daughter of the Mature Nature. Therefore recent years I apply the metaphor often seen in traditional Chinese literati painting into my creation. Examples include the stepping-stones intentionally placed in the clay body which symbolizes the mountain and the square cave in the ‘mountain’ giving the hint of the existence of another space. Simplicity presents the immensity of land; modesty implies grandiosity of landscape; and the trail and square cave metaphor indicate the peaceful relationship between humans and the Nature.
On my path of ceramics making, first I want to thank Mr. Wu, Yu-tang for ceramics enlightenment during studied in National Taiwan University of Arts, and Professor Wang, Ming-hsien's craft guidance, secondly I want to thank my parents let me choose to leave the stable bank work, study in Japan to pursue the dream of art. Big thanks to Professor Suzuki Osamu lead me into the field of contemporary ceramics. After returning to Taiwan, Taiwan ceramics began to flourish, thanks for the encouragement from professor Wu, Jang-nung, Lin, Pao-chia Chiu, Huan-tang, and ceramist Lee Mao-chung, Fan, Cheng-chin, Yang Winnie, Tsai, Rong-leng, Li, Liang-yi and all my students, let me toward the road of creation firmly. Finally, I want to thank my dear family, my wife Shu-ping and sons Yi-hong, Yi-tang for their understanding, love and tolerance, together we find full of happiness in ceramics world.