on TAIPEI Kil'n time in Taipei - Community Services Center
on TAIPEI Kil'n time in Taipei - Community Services Center
on TAIPEI Kil'n time in Taipei - Community Services Center
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il× n ti e <strong>in</strong> aipe<br />
TExT & IMAGES: INGE NIELSEN<br />
chances are if you've lived <strong>in</strong> <strong>Taipei</strong> for any<br />
length of <strong>time</strong>, you have made it out to Y<strong>in</strong>gge<br />
to view the ceramics displayed <strong>in</strong> the museum<br />
there. Maybe you have even wet your hands<br />
and turned your own bowl <strong>in</strong> <strong>on</strong>e of the pottery shops<br />
nestled between the st<strong>in</strong>ky doufu stalls <strong>on</strong> the old street.<br />
Few people however realize that <strong>Taipei</strong> also offers places<br />
for the curious newcomer to pottery.<br />
Huayan (’flower rock’) Pottery Studio, Mr Zheng<br />
Dey<strong>on</strong>g's workshop near Qilian MRT stati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> Beitou,<br />
is <strong>on</strong>e such place. A diam<strong>on</strong>d <strong>in</strong> the rough, it’s a twenty<br />
square-meter, pleasantly cluttered room that c<strong>on</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s<br />
five potter's wheels, two kilns and several other heavy<br />
mach<strong>in</strong>es. Here, beautiful pieces of ceramics are<br />
produced <strong>in</strong> a c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>uous stream.<br />
Mr Zheng says he set up the studio twenty years ago<br />
after graduat<strong>in</strong>g from art college “to make a little pocket<br />
m<strong>on</strong>ey before head<strong>in</strong>g off to England to study ceramics,<br />
and I have been stuck here ever s<strong>in</strong>ce.” In his early days,<br />
Mr Zheng started off tak<strong>in</strong>g commissi<strong>on</strong>s for tea sets,<br />
s<strong>in</strong>ks and other pieces, but he found that “be<strong>in</strong>g holed up<br />
all al<strong>on</strong>e for up to two weeks <strong>in</strong> a row was unhealthy”<br />
and he then began tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> students. Over the past<br />
twenty years, he has taught hundreds of people, children<br />
and adults alike, am<strong>on</strong>g them many foreigners and many<br />
who were complete newcomers to mak<strong>in</strong>g pottery.<br />
an oPen m<strong>in</strong>d<br />
Mr Zheng says he is often asked what k<strong>in</strong>d of pottery<br />
he makes. “I always answer: I make all k<strong>in</strong>ds! I th<strong>in</strong>k<br />
those people who specialize <strong>in</strong> just <strong>on</strong>e design or another<br />
are often follow<strong>in</strong>g a certa<strong>in</strong> fashi<strong>on</strong> trend. I try to<br />
keep an open m<strong>in</strong>d. I can make anyth<strong>in</strong>g!” Indeed, Mr<br />
Zheng's work table is filled with a plethora of shapes:<br />
traditi<strong>on</strong>al teapots, modern sculptures, vases, Japanesestyle<br />
w<strong>in</strong>e goblets, coffee mugs and plates.<br />
Though he says he enjoys all aspects of his work, from<br />
wedg<strong>in</strong>g the clay to pull<strong>in</strong>g and fir<strong>in</strong>g the pieces, he<br />
devotes a c<strong>on</strong>siderable amount of <strong>time</strong> to experiment<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with glazes. All his glazes are lead-free and the result of<br />
24 june 2010