Zang Qingyu
YP
How did you begin your journey in ceramics? What led you to stay in Jingdezhen?
QY
I graduated from university in 2013 and came to Jingdezhen to work on my graduation project. After I finished, I ended up staying and set up my studio around 2014.
YP
Why did you choose tea ware as your main focus?
QY
Vessels are among the objects we interact with most closely. They are part of everyday life and they are meant to be used and enjoyed. Tea ware, in particular, came naturally to me because I love drinking tea. I brew tea every day, usually once or twice, so I started with something that was already part of my own life.
YP
How do you see your work in the context of this exhibition?
QY
Many exhibitions are present as formal art experiences, they sometimes feel quite formal, especially art exhibitions. But by situating the works in a domestic setting, the objects become much closer to everyday life
YP
What does “home” mean to you?
QY
Home is a space for both our daily and inner lives. It’s not something unique to humans, even animals have nests. We all need a place that offers protection while fulfilling both our material and spiritual needs.
What sets humans apart is that we seek meaning beyond the practical. A bowl, for example, is never just a bowl. In a tea room, whether it is a tea bowl or a teapot, it carries not only a practical purpose but also a spiritual one. Sometimes, simply drinking a cup of tea or cooking for yourself can become something more. To me, home is a place that holds all of this.
What sets humans apart is that we seek meaning beyond the practical. A bowl, for example, is never just a bowl. In a tea room, whether it is a tea bowl or a teapot, it carries not only a practical purpose but also a spiritual one. Sometimes, simply drinking a cup of tea or cooking for yourself can become something more. To me, home is a place that holds all of this.
