C'est la Chine - Netherlands | Hunan designer in Netherlands establishes reputation of 'Made in China' by creating characterful porcelains
Ceramic designer Li Libo, from Hunan, has been living in the Netherlands for 13 years. When asked why she moved to the Netherlands, she jokingly said she "accidentally" married a Dutchman. In the outskirts of Amsterdam, Li rented a studio where she focuses on ceramic design, occasionally teaching children how to make ceramics.
Chinese porcelain featuring tulips becomes a popular best-selling product
Li studied ceramics at Jingdezhen Ceramics University, followed by further studies at the China Academy of Art and a Master of Fine Arts program at Kent State University in the United States. She expressed a preference for making porcelain in ceramics and thus wanted to establish a studio to create items that blend traditional historical culture with practicality and fun.
On a high shelf in the studio, 16 sets of porcelain cups, Li's pride, and joy, are neatly stacked. She explained that the patterns on this set of works are inspired by plants, flower vases, and insects, featuring Chinese traditional motifs like red maple and narcissus, as well as the iconic symbol of the Netherlands—tulips. Each cup is adorned with different plants and potted landscapes, appearing independent yet forming a cohesive pattern when stacked together, showcasing creativity.
Blending Eastern and Western elements, drawing inspiration from and paying tribute to van Gogh
Li's designs have garnered favor from many foreigners, with the tulip cups being the most sought-after product. Local Dutch housewives have become avid collectors of this series, gradually acquiring the entire collection for home use. Li mentioned that the cups have been designed and produced since 2011, with around 39 patterns created so far. She added that there are still many flora and fauna in nature that can be depicted, possibly reaching up to 100 patterns in the future.
The popular set of porcelain cups represents a fusion of Eastern and Western styles, crafted from delicate white porcelain from Dehua, Fujian. The porcelain is as white as jade, thin as paper, and sounds like a chime. The landscapes painted in cobalt blue on the surface are styled in a modern and minimalist fashion. Li introduced that some pieces pay homage to van Gogh, such as the significance of the "Sunflowers," while the inspiration for the potted landscape comes from a corner of van Gogh's famous painting "The Bedroom," as thinking of the Netherlands inevitably brings van Gogh to mind.
Promoting traditional craftsmanship, "Made in China" guarantees quality
In fact, Dutch people are familiar with porcelain; the small southern Dutch town of Delft is often referred to as the "Jingdezhen of Europe." In the 17th and 18th centuries, Europeans had an almost fanatical admiration for and praise of Chinese ceramics, leading Delft's potters to imitate Chinese blue and white porcelain, inadvertently establishing the town as a ceramic hub in Europe.
Li does not fully endorse this technique: "Delftware hasn't been able to replicate Chinese porcelain; it is painted with a thin layer of tin glaze, then comes the blue picture. The same outlook, but in fact, it is still not porcelain." She explained that authentic Chinese porcelain craftsmanship is intricate, involving 72 documented procedures if strictly following traditional methods.
"When people come over, they will say, 'Oh, Delft Blue.' I said, 'No, it's Chinese porcelain.'" Whenever encountering Europeans who mistake her work for Delft blue pottery, she would earnestly tell them about that.
Undeniably, there are still some in the West who hold a low opinion of "Made in China," rejecting anything labeled as such. However, Li proudly promotes the origin of her products, always emphasizing that these captivating designs are entirely from China, stating, "For porcelain, if it is made in China, it means that it has the best quality."
Related News:
Comment