Sima Zhou, a doctoral graduate from the School of Crafts, showcased his work “All Creation Springs Forth” at the 2024 CAA Graduation Exhibition and won the gold award. During his undergraduate and master’s studies, Sima Zhou specialized in Chinese painting, focusing primarily onfigure painting. His doctoral research concentrated on the study of Yuan Dynasty(AD 1271-1368) blue and white porcelain, integrating its elements into his creations.

The series “All Creation Springs Forth” symbolizes that all beings possess spirituality, their existence stemming from causality. All things coexist in the world, forming systematic microcosms and composing a harmonious and beautiful symphony of life. The graduation series consists of six ceramic jars, each with a different theme. The first piece depicts koi and coral, illustrating a scene of humans and fish swimming freely in the sea; the second piece features the ribbon-tailed bird, paired with elements of Yuan blue and white peony scrolls; the third piece includes banana leaves and butterflies, symbolizing rebirth and freedom; the fourth piece centers on octopuses and seawater, with the octopus representing wisdom, having eight brains despite its short lifespan; the fifth piece features cacti and chameleons, evoking thoughts of their resilience and freedom in harsh desert environments; the sixth piece highlights snails and mushrooms, turning often-overlooked snails into charming and lovable figures through artistic processing.

The graduate employs underglaze painting techniques, using various blue and white materials and glaze colorants on original white porcelain vessels to depict an ideal scene of the symbiosis of all things. Each angle of the work presents a complete picture, with the content and storyline interconnected yet distinct. The combination of painting content and vessel form is harmonious. The diverse materials, after hand-painting and high-temperature firing, create rich textures and tactile qualities on the surface. The texture and patterns of each element differ yet blend seamlessly, showcasing the magical effects of the inherent uncertainty in porcelain painting.

Through this series, the artist hopes to present a scene that blurs reality and dream, encouraging people to discover the often-overlooked charm of life and to develop a reverence for nature, respecting every lovable living creature.

All Creation Springs Forth

Artist: Sima Zhou (School of Crafts)

Instructor: Liu Zheng