Yingge exhibit showcases the beauty of porcelain

2015/12/01

An exhibit of blue-and-white porcelain is underway at the Yingge Ceramics Museum in New Taipei City, aiming to foster people’s appreciation for the time-honored art form and its modern legacy.

Organized by the city government’s Cultural Affairs Department, the “Imaging the Blue and White—The Impact of the New” exhibition features 167 antique and modern chinaware collections from 13 countries and territories.

“Yingge plays a pivotal role in Taiwan’s ceramic and porcelain scene,” CAD Deputy Commissioner Yu Wen said Nov. 26 at the exhibit’s opening ceremony. “We hope the 18-week event will attract interest from around the world and further promote the region as an international hub of porcelain craftsmanship.”

Echoing her remarks, museum director Chen Chun-lan said the display boasts pieces spanning from the 13th century to modern times. “The exhibition offers a comprehensive view of the influences behind and developments of international porcelain manufacturing.”

One highlight is a blue-and-white chess jar adorned with patterns of five-claw dragons crafted during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1367). The item was unearthed in Jiangxi province’s Jingdezhen in mainland China in 1988, with intact black-and-white chess pieces found inside the vessel.

It is believed that the chinaware was fired for an emperor, as only the ruler was allowed to have five-claw dragon decorations. The Chinese game of chess, or Go, was also widely popular among royals during the period.

Equally impressive is a lotus bouquet dish fashioned in the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The piece has been circulated among various private collectors since it was made.

Exquisite representations of plants including arrowhead, duckweed, lotus and seedpod can be seen in the center of the plate. Flowers of camellia, chrysanthemum, lotus and rose embellishing the dish’s edge also lend elegance and delicacy to the artwork.

An eye-catching modern work is “Guarding” by Lee Tsun-jen. Covered in images of monsters inspired by the “Classic of Mountains and Seas” written sometime between the 3rd century B.C. and 2nd century, the local artist’s creation looks like a heavily tattooed dog in a resting position.

Running through March 27 next year, the event also displays other noteworthy pieces like 15th-century Vietnamese chinaware, Meissen porcelain from Germany and modern Japanese artworks blazed with traditional techniques.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=239562&ctNode=2194&mp=9)