Yaoli village’s traditional structures, made of materials like wood and brick, boast intricate carvings and decorations. Its ancient kiln sites and workshops are also noteworthy examples of Chinese architecture.
Visitors can witness the craftsmanship behind porcelain and pottery production by exploring these sites.
The skilled ladies in a porcelain factory mold and fire baijiu bottles before expertly placing intricate ceramic decals on them, creating unique pieces of art that reflect their attention to detail.
Their craftsmanship is a testament to the power of tradition and the enduring value of handcrafted goods in an age of mass production.
Creating porcelain baijiu bottles with intricate ceramic decals is a painstakingly hard and time-consuming task that requires a lot of patience and precision. Though exhausting, the skilled ladies in the factory persevere with dedication to produce high-quality pieces.
Picture of Paolo Porelli, Ryan Matthew Mitchell and the Chinese kiln guru loading the kiln.
Inside the studios at The International Studio in Taoxichuan
These are pictures that show how I started the 2 monumental sculptures. The base of each was 2′ long x 4′ wide x 1″ thick and each weighed 200 lbs.
As I built the sculpture vertically, I found myself waiting for hours between each resin pour on the third or fourth day of construction. These waiting periods allowed me to reflect on progress made so far, recharge, refocus, and ensure that each step was deliberate and thoughtful.
Day 6 was much of the same. At this stage, I was able to get 3 solid pours per day (about 10″ to 12″ in height). In between I was able to focus on other projects utilizing the same approach.
Day 8 really saw the sculpture take shape.
At this stage (Day 10) of the construction process, the importance of the white ceramic rings cannot be overstated. As I looked at the sculpture taking shape, I realized just how integral these rings were to the overall design. It was fascinating to consider that this building technique, which had become so central to the project, had originated from a chance discovery during my archaeological walks in JDZ.