DIA170xH240mm, Hong Kong
Metallic washed
White glazed
Stoneware teapot
with
handmade bamboo handle
POTTERY ART BY CHRIS LO
MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
We are honored to have a series of work by ceramic artist Chris Lo for Mountain Folkcraft.
Chris Lo is a local ceramic artist. Graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1990. Chris has been specializing in ceramics since 1993. Three years later, he founded Cobo Ceramic Workshop and continue to explore the relationship among man, time and space which are well expressed in his work. Chris has participated in numerous exhibitions in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan and Europe. His works are collected by the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the National Museum of Chinese History (Beijing) and private collectors.
Catch the Collide / Converge exhibition to see Chris and other’s ceramic sculpture before it closes on the thur the 28th.
Watch this space for the following days to see the collection!
DIA220xH160mm, China
Hotpot is a popular dish in China.
Fresh meat and vegetable bleached with boiling soup then dipped into a variety of different sauces is super tasty. Hotpot used to be a winter dish; eating around the stove with meat just off the pot, rice wine and friends is the perfect meal for a freezing evening. Since the invention of air conditioner, we just find any excuses for such gathering, even on a 30+c summer night.
Before the induction stove, the canister gas stove, charcoal is used to heat up the soup for hotpot. Despite its appearance, this is stove for the hotpot where a traditionally a chimney donut shaped copper pot would be placed over the porcelain stove. Charcoal will be placed in the slot at bottom which opened up to the center of the stove and into the copper chimney, the copper conducts the heat to the rest of the pot.
DIA75mm, China
The perfect circle in motion.
Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection
W350xL350mm, China
A delicate embroidery of flowers with gold threads on a fine piece of silk. An example of the school of Guangdong embroidery where different thread material is being used, gold, silver, horse hair and even threads made from peacock’s feather.
This item is a du dou, a traditional under garment which is made by the girl for their lover, husband and children. The pattern on the this du dou seems to be cropped which might indicate that it was taken from a fine top garment, something that is far too precious to throw away even if certain part is torn.
W600xH170mm, China
A phrase of blessing, 福壽無疆 “Fu Shou Wu Jiang”, good fortune and longevity without limit.
On the print are 4 fruits (from right to left); the Buddha’s hand fruit, the peach, large fruit and the pomegranate, they are also symbol of blessings.
Buddha’s Hand Fruit 佛手 – the fortune hand 福手 as they share the same pronounciation “Fu Shou”.
Longevity Peach 壽桃- the magical peaches that produce longevity.
Large Fruit 碩果- the rare individual that made large achievements.
Pomegranate 石榴 – the many seeds of the pomegranate symbolizes many sons.
This new year print was from the Ping Yang school which started print making since the Sung dynasty. This print is by one of the famous print shop 興昌畫店 in Lin Fin Town.
DIA380mm, Hong Kong
A necklace with nugget like beads.
Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection
W45xD45xH75mm, China
A snuff bottle decorated with 8 treasures used by the Taoisit 8 Immortals, “An Ba Xian”.
Gourd – Iron Crutch Li
Fan – Han Zhong Li
Fish Drum – Elder Zheng Guo
Sword – Lu Dong Bin
Lotus – He Xian Gu
Basket of Flower – Lan Cai He
Flute – Philosopher Han Xiang Zi
Castanet – Royal Uncle Cao
These 8 treasures have special powers;
Gourd – saving the world
Fan – resurrection
Fish Drum – prediction
Sword – keep evil at bay
Lotus – purification of the soul
Basket of Flower – direct line to the Saints
Flute – revitalizing all creatures
Castanet – purifying the world
When I was writing this, I thought the Gourd being able to save the world would be all that we need, but writing on all the other 7 treasures are even more powerful. For the world we live in now, we need the Castanet more than ever.
DIA280mm, China
This white bead necklace is made from the shell of a giant clam known as Hippopus Hippopus. The material, musaragalva, is one of the seven treasures of Buddhism – musaragalva, agate, crystal, amber, pearl and musk. These seven precious items differs in the ancient scripts but musargalva seems to be always part of the group. The Buddhists believe it has the ability to provide blessing and keep out of harm’s way.
Something Old Something New Collectible Jewellery Collection
DIA330xH80mm, China
A lacquer tray decorated with picture of a scene from the Beijing opera “Tai Jun Ci Cao”. The story is about the famous Yang family of warriors.
First some background to the story; Commander Lord Yang, his wife She Sai Hua and their 7 sons was defending the North Han country against the Sung. Though the Sung army is the stronger one, the Yang’s family out smarted them, the Sung General Pan was shot by Lady’s She’s arrow and had to retreat. Failing with the attack, the Sung emperor spread rumors about Lord Yang which had the suspicious North Han emperor distrust Yang’s advice and was defeated utterly. After the victory, the Sung emperor took Lord Yang under his wing and made him a trusted official, General Pan was very jealous of this promotion.
The Liao country start attacking Sung, Lord Yang and his sons was defending Sung at the border. Yang’s army was out numbered, 3 of his sons were killed in action, he send his 7th son to get reinforcement but was secretly killed by Pan. Lord Yang was captured and one of his son was captured, Lord Yong committed suicide to avoid being used as a hostage while his son was selected by the Liao Princess to be her husband. The 5th son was tired of all the fighting and the politics became a monk. The 6th son managed to escape and returned to the Sung capital and became the commander in place of his father but was later killed in action.
The opera story on the lacquer dish appear at this point, the Sung emperor asked the Yang family to led the fight with the Liao. With all the males gone, here is only Lady She (now in her 70s), 2 daughters, the daughter in laws and young grandson left in the family. Lady She, the commander with the female warriors led the army to victory. When they return safety home, Lady She after losing all her sons fearing that her only grandson too would eventually die in battle ask the Emperor to allow the family to leave their duty as the commanders.
Mountain Folkcraft 