Article/Photos by Fu Zhen
It is May, when we bid farewell to spring and welcome the arrival of summer. Young seedlings in spring have matured into a field of green paddy. What meets our eyes is a vast expanse of idyllic scenery. Right in the middle of the paddy field stands a haven of peace. where many a youngster stay during their cross-country holiday of four-wheel drive and extremely challenging terrains, adding much youthful vitality and a new breath of action to this small town nestleel in Taichung County.
Zhang Xi Yuan and Zhou Miao Wen are a young couple who have captured the attention of the pottery fraternity in recent years. The surroundings of their home and studio are a perfect reflection of their lifestyle - born and raised in their hometown; they are now living in the tranquility and calmness of a rural homestead, where they keep the passion of their youthfulness burning through creative pottery.
Friends come, during or before and after holidays. They gather around the big wooden table, chat over a cup of tea, admire and toy with the many pottery pieces on display around the house. Being laid back and dynamic, fast and slow, busy and leisurely, it seems that Zhang Xi Yuan and Zhou Miao Wen have adopted the same approach they have towards pottery to their own attitude to life. When it comes to handling and controlling the amount of water and clay, fire and glaze, timing and temperature, they have their own set of criteria and philosophy: serious at work yet following the laws of nature, taking pleasure in. work and enjoing happiness in life.
When we called them on the phone through a friend to line up this interview, Zhang Xi Yuan and Zhou Miao Wen were out scouting for good food in Taichung. This is an interest they both embrace, a treat for them after hard work. "We are two very different people. We have different ideas and ways of thinking. This difference is demonstrated by the distinct characteristics in the style, form and artistic expressions of our works. But when it comes to delicious food, and appreciating beautiful things in life, we are basically the same. Isn't enjoying a good life the reason behind all our effort?" said Zhou Miao Wen in a calm and gentle tone.
Zhou Miao Wen came into contact with pottery during her high school days, and she continued to study pottery at university. Now after more than 20 years, her passion for pottery has deepened with the passage of time. Having explored diverse creative paths, she is evolving at a steady pace. Her style is classic, exquisite, refined, understated, and highly decorative, with fine feminine touches and gentleness. So unique is her artistic language and temperament that people recognize her works at one glance. She set up her studio in 1995.
Zhang Xi Yuan first took up pottery because of Zhou's influence. He is a "natural-born rebel" drawn to adventure; his works are experimental, volatile and have an avant-garde sense of uncertainty, showcasing the potential and energy of resolution, uniqueness and simplistic charm.
Zhou Miao makes the most of her talents of crafting and painting, along with a keen and highly receptive sense. She constantly pursues a personal rhythm in life, and a landscape that enables self-dialogue within her scad, in her creative works. "Flowers and cloud" is the most common theme Zhou Miao Wen adopts in her works, featuring totem-like elements from Nature. The result is a unique kind of beauty generated by a woman, and expression of her own attitude towards life. Earlier this year, Zhou Miao Wen received an invitation from the Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau to hold a pottery art exhibition, entitled "Beautiful Scenes: Landscape on a Pot". Pots are the main creative theme. Zhou has acquired a solid foundation and technical skill in pot making and modeling from her mentor Li Xing Long, whose expertise lies in teapot making; Li spares no effort in making perfect pots with special attention to precision. Meanwhile, given the size of teapots in general, there is enough space for one to explore creativity and expressive techniques.
Zhou believes that art should not be just a form of decoration; it should be an integral part of life. In the practical utensils she has created, Zhou Miao Wen has given much thought, not to say taken great pain, to paint and carve. Be it a small tea cup or a huge vase, Zhou gives equal attention and effort to make sure the pieces come out perfect. In general, each item takes about 20 steps to paint the colors of the glaze, layers of texture, and intricate decoration The idea is to share with users the richness of visual beauty, and to urge them to feel the refinement of pottery. Zhang Xi Yuan quips: "Considering the effort she puts in, a teacup at a couple of hundred Taiwan Dollars is a real bargain."
Zhou Miao Wen chooses to infuse her creation with life, the way she chooses to infuse her life with pottery. "I believe that every small thing in our life has its own message; hence, the need to express, be it teaware, flower vases, gaiwan, cups or saucers, bottles or jars, or even sculptures. Throughout the process of pottery making, from kneading, sculpting, glazing, painting, to firing in the kiln, I am serious yet feel happy and at ease, because the state of my mind, will be manifested, and. delivered to those who come into contact with my works. I hope that the users do not simply use the containers I have made，but also share my feelings. In this way, every single pot and cup will have a beautiful life of its own. "This motive is apparent with the "Force of Life", one of her masterpieces that bagged the first prize in the arts and crafts category of the National Art Exhibition.
In this piece of work, the piece of clay been shaped into at seed, while the motif of leaves and branches representing a big tree were carved onto the "seeds". With the application of light green and light red ceramic glaze throughout, it brings out the message that even a tiny seed can one day grow into a big tree with lush foliage, embodying the great forces of life within. In her words, the work is the realization of how "a tiny seed can turn into a big tree that stands tall and firm for many years to come" , out of her admiration of the energy and will of life.
For Zhang Xi Yuan, an introduction into pottery making came years later than Zhou. His ideas and expression are poles apart from hers. Due to his experience with wood, having studied in the woodwork department in a vocational school, he takes a more pluralistic approach when it comes to raw material, allowing even more freedom in his creation. He is more experimental, daring and adventurous, compared to the meticulous and methodical approach Zhou Miao Wen adopts, after years of formal pottery training. Zhou Miao Wen often teases Zhang Xi Yuan for not being able to master the skill of shaping with the potters wheel; and yet, he has developed his own unique way without being limited by the wheel. As seen in his works, this approach allows more freedom and unrestrained creativity of shape, while capturing more of the creator's own personality.
Zhang Yu Xi concedes that he was born to go against the norm, and does not follow rules set by others. When he first took up pottery, he visited pottery studios in different places. His keenest interest was the reasons behind their different approaches. "I thought, there should be a more concise way to achieve certain effects. This involved much trial and error, which is crucial to understanding and appreciating the essence of pottery making, and developing one’s own style." Zhang Xi Yuan produces works with a strong sense of philosophy and individuality. His he interaction between potter and the fire becomes closer. When the wood fire is burning, the thousands of possible outcomes, between certain and uncertainty, appear — it is very fascinating.
Pottery is the common interest that has brought Zhang Xi Yuan and Zhou Miao Wen closer to each other. They arc independent creators, who have grown to be passionate about each other's works. Encouragement and learning is mutual; and yet, they are also critical of each other's work. Partners in life, and supporters on the path of creative exploration theirs is a story of a pottery of happiness.
