Master Liang Shichang's Ceramic Art: "Fu De Chang You" Series Tea Bowl with Exclusive Brocade Box and Gift Bag

The "Fu De Chang You" series draws inspiration from the renowned "Water Land God Temple" in Daxi. Within a palette of warm hues, the Mocha Diffusion technique creates a scene of flourishing trees, with the Land God Temple nestled beneath, enveloped in swirling incense smoke, blessing the local land with a sense of tranquil serenity. Master Liang Shichang explains that the warm color palette was initially inspired by the rich layers of color displayed by the metasequoia trees in autumn and winter, a trend that gained popularity in Taiwan over the past decade. In terms of technique, he employs the century-old "Mocha Diffusion" method, allowing the natural flow of glaze to render the silhouette of the metasequoia trees. "Mocha Diffusion" is a technique developed by British ceramic artist Kevin Kowalski. A few drops of acidic liquid are applied to the surface of a damp clay body. Upon contact, the liquid spreads and adheres to the clay through capillary action, extending like mycelium. The artist first applies an underglaze as a base, followed by a glaze containing iron oxide. After the Mocha Diffusion process and firing, the iron oxide transforms, exhibiting variations from red to black, thus forming the image of the metasequoia trees. Regarding the clay composition, the artist maintains a philosophy of returning to the essence of the material, incorporating fine stone into the refined clay to create a textured, rustic feel. Artist's Profile Master ceramic artist Liang Shichang was born in Tainan in 1957. At the age of 26, he apprenticed under master potter Weng Kuo-chen in Yingge, immersing himself in the world of ceramics and subsequently holding numerous exhibitions. His research into glazes is profound and comprehensive, and he masterfully applies this knowledge, consistently pushing the boundaries in the realm of glazed works to create breathtaking pieces. In 1999, feeling creatively stagnant and unsure of his path forward in ceramics, Master Liang Shichang decisively abandoned his artistic pursuits to delve into jade appraisal. It wasn't until 2021 that he resolved to return to ceramic creation. He spent two years familiarizing himself with glazes and producing hundreds of samples, aspiring to forge a unique style. Master Liang Shichang's current works primarily feature "glaze paintings." He finds inspiration in nature, adhering to a principle of using no more than two glazes in his creations: artistic glazes and ceramic glazes. During the creation process, he first selects glazes that can best express the theme, then utilizes the properties of the glazes – their thickness, layering, separation, carving, marbling, or rendering – to depict the envisioned landscape. Simple strokes are added in appropriate places to enhance the artistic mood, followed by firing to complete the piece. In addition to glazes, materials used for painting also include the cracked textures and marbled patterns of the clay body, as well as natural elements like leaves or minerals. Upon returning to ceramic creation, Master Liang Shichang draws inspiration from nature, expressing artistic concepts through glazes and clay bodies. Ideas emerge abundantly, like bamboo shoots after rain. "Being able to convey artistic concepts using my proficient ceramic techniques, glaze knowledge, and painting expertise fills me with great joy and satisfaction. I hope this new beginning will help establish my distinct ceramic style."