“Tea Talk”: Contemporary Teapots Group Exhibition
2011.05.21 – 2011.06.22
Opening reception: 4 to 6 pm. Saturday, May 21, 2011
Location: twocities gallery, 50 Moganshan Road, Building 0, 2F, Shanghai
Gallery opening hours: Tues – Fri, 10:00 – 18:00; Sat – Sun, 12:30 – 18:00
Website: www.twocitiesgallery.com
 
SHANGHAI - The twocities gallery is proud to present "Tea Talk", a group exhibition featuring conceptual teapots exploring the aesthetics and tradition of tea culture in China.

Tea culture is an integral part of Chinese culture: from the design and function of teapots to the tea ceremony itself, the whole art of tea carries nuances of hospitality and friendship and the very essence of the ‘Tao’. Teapots are not just centerpieces for décor; they are emblems of our humanity and represent our need for connection with the world around us and with one another.

From deconstructing a teapot’s parts to reconfiguring their forms, the young artists in this group show push the boundaries of traditional teapot design. Luan Jiaqi personifies her teapots with human body parts. American artist Dryden Wells redefines the teapot in terms of gestures rather than physicality. Zhao Lantao captures the inspiring beauty of the lotus, another symbol of Chinese culture, in his work.

The opening reception on May 21 will include a traditional tea ceremony, juxtaposing the history of tea with the modern interpretations in the exhibit.

“Tea Talk” will run until June 22. For more information, please contact Eva Ting at 5252 1518 or email eva@twocitiesgallery.com.

2011.05.21—2011.06.22
开幕酒会：2011年5月21日，周六，下午4：00—6：00
地点：双城现代手工艺术馆，上海市莫干山路50号零号楼二楼
画廊开放时间：周二至周五，10:00 – 18:00；周六、周日，12:30 – 18:00
网站：www.twocitiesgallery.com

上海—双城现代手工艺术馆将举办“壶说：当代茶壶邀请展”，本次群展将展出一系列概念茶壶，探讨中国茶文化的源远流长和美学情怀。

茶文化是中国文化中不可或缺的一环，从茶壶的设计制作到茶道表演，茶艺承载着中国人的友好热情，更传承着老庄之道的精髓。茶壶不仅仅是桌上的摆件，更象征着我们的人文精神，代表着我们渴望与他人、与世界相连。

从解构到重组，年轻的艺术家们突破了传统茶壶的设计界限和创作定式。栾佳齐赋予茶壶拟人化的形象，将人体的一部分揉入其中。美国艺术家Dryden Wells打破茶壶的固有形状，用一种动态的方式来呈现他印象中的茶壶。赵兰涛则捕捉到莲花的美态，以夏末的花苞及秋末的莲实为茶壶的主要创作元素。

5月21日的开幕酒会上将有茶艺表演，传统的茶道和现代的诠释将在同一场展览中呈现。

“壶说”展期将到6月22日。如需更多信息，请联系丁奕文小姐，联系电话52521518，或发邮件到 eva@twocitiesgallery.com

 

Opening reception: Saturday, May 21, 4 to 6 pm
Show ends June 22

The art of tea is not just about the tea itself; the act of preparing, serving and enjoying the tea embodies values of hospitality, generosity and meditation.

“Tea Talk” is a group exhibition featuring young artists exploring the significance of tea culture in China. With bold designs and creative concepts, these non-functional teapots pay homage to the tradition of tea while imagining the future of tea culture and aesthetics.

开幕酒会：5月21日，周六下午4:00—6:00
展期至6月22日。

茶道不仅仅指茶叶本身，还包括了冲泡、奉茶以及品茶，茶文化承载了中国人的热情、好客和冥思。

“壶说”汇集了一群年轻的现代艺术家，他们用粗犷的设计、创新的理念、以及非实用性的茶壶向源远流长的中国茶文化致敬，也为传统茶道引入美学和对未来的展望。

 

                Twocities Gallery双城现代手工艺术馆

Within every city, two cities simultaneously emerge. The first represents all that is good and right and desirable; the second city everything that we long to see changed. The twocities art gallery seeks to help build the first city, through art and events that champion beauty, commitment, thoughtfulness and community. As one of the few galleries in China specializing in contemporary handcrafted art, twocities represents Chinese artists pioneering in modern glass, ceramics, lacquer and jewelry. We are dedicated to providing a platform for contemporary craft artists to engage in international dialogue. Other events include lectures, film showings and concerts showcasing musicians from a variety of musical genres. In keeping with twocities gallery’s desire to build “the good city” we work to promote events which highlight beauty, thoughtfulness and innovation in artistic expression and in the city we inhabit.

在每个城市里，其实都存在两个城市。第一个城市代表着所有的真善美以及我们所渴望得到的一切；第二个则代表着我们期望改变的一切。 双城现代手工艺术馆致力于帮助建造第一个城市。我们所展示的艺术、所举行的活动无不提倡美好的事物、担负的责任、思想的内涵以及公众的利益。作为中国当代屈指可数的专门从事现代手工艺术作品的画廊，双城现代手工艺术馆代表了在现代玻璃艺术、陶艺、金属艺术、首饰和漆艺中最有成就或最前卫的艺术家们的作品。我们致力于为当代手工艺术家提供一个与国际对话的平台。 我们还举办讲座、电影与音乐会，邀请不同流派的音乐家来到我们的舞台演出。双城现代手工艺术馆通过举办不同的活动来传达美好的事物、思想的内涵、全新的艺术表达形式和我们所居住家园的新貌，共建真善美的城市。

50 Moganshan Road, Building 0, 2nd Floor
tel [86 21] 5252 1518
莫干山路50号0号楼2楼
info@twocitiesgallery.com
 www.twocitiesgallery.com

 

“壶说”—— 当代茶壶艺术创作邀请展

“器以载道”在中国美学中是不衰的话题。而茶、茶道、茶文化向来与中国文化息息相关。。。茶艺与茶道，承载着中国人几千年积淀的人文、情感、精神。。。

论及茶艺或茶道，诸多文人学士提出不同见解。比如程启坤和姚国坤提出的“理、敬、清、融”， 他们认为茶用来养性、联谊、示礼、传情、育德。台湾的范增平先生则提出“和、俭、静、洁”；而林荆南先生则认为茶道之精神为“美律、健康、养性、明伦”。尽管仁者见仁、智者见智，都试图为中国的茶道、茶艺概括出其所承载之“道”之精髓。茶道中极其讲究茶器与具的应用，如茶具的分类就有六类之多三十种不同器具。而茶道中之“器”所承载之“道”更是整个茶道中精髓所在。作为受到当代文化以及西方文化冲击的艺术家，在寻找自己的文化之根时也在探讨传统之“道”之传承的途径，“器”作为视觉文化的具体呈现，就成为此探索道路中的一个重要组成部分。

因此，此次以茶壶之器为题的展览，乃是双城特别邀请二十几位站在时代前沿的艺术同道一起从一个全新的视角去审视传统之器、之道。此次展览中的“器”与“道”又有某种相通之处。诚如老子所说“道可道，非常道”。但在视觉艺术的可道之道中，似乎，器所载之道，也有赖于艺术家不同的见解。因此，每个“器”之“道”不一，有赖于部分作品乃西方艺术家在中国本土制作的，另有中国艺术家在西方环境中制作的，有的尚留器之功能，有的则是完全“去功能化”之器。似乎，大家对茶道以及器具之理解也各不相同。所聚之“器与道”也横贯中西，承古越今。

“壶说”，愿此次展览不仅是中西艺术家的一次创作交流，也成为传统文化传承与创新的一次对话。当艺术家将“己”所认识之道“呼”入其手所创作之“器”，器随之有了“生气”，而后通过器之无声的言说，期望与观众产生更多的对话与交流。如此，“非常之道”便有了可言说的平台与背景。

策展：
邵长宗，景德镇陶瓷学院副教授。。。。。。
郭新，上海大学美术学院副教授，上海双城手工艺术馆艺术总监

展期：5月21日—6月22日
开幕式：5月21日下午4点—6点

Tea Talk: Contemporary Teapots Group Exhibition

The idea that ware conveys Tao is an everlasting topic in Chinese aesthetics. Tea culture is closely interrelated to Chinese culture; it carries thousand-of-year’s spirit, emotion and humanity.

Tea performance was widely interpreted by different scholars. Chengqikun and Yaoguokun believe tea can cultivate good personality and convey friendship. Fanzengping prefers harmony, simple and quiet for tea performance. Though with different understandings, they all try to summarize the deep essence of tea culture. Teapots and tea sets played a particular role in performance. The Tao carried by tea sets is the soul of tea performance. At the junction of Chinese, western and contemporary culture, while artists are looking for their culture root, they are also exploring the way to inherit the soul of Tao. Ware, as the visible presence, is an important part of that.

This time twocities invited twenty more emerging artists to present a teapot show, discussing about traditional Tao from a new point of view. In this exhibition, “ware” and “Tao” share some idea in common. “The Tao that can be told of is not an unvarying Tao.” said Lao-tzu. But in visual art, the Tao carried by wares depends on artists’ understanding. Therefore, every wares have their own Tao. Some are made in China by western artists and some vice versa. Some remain the function of a ware but some are totally dis-functional. It seems we all have our own way to interpret tea pots and tea sets. “Ware” and “Tao” in this group exhibition will blend the east and the west, modern and tradition.

Tea Talk is more than an art communication; it’s a dialogue of inheritance and innovation. When artists pour their “Tao” into their “wares”, wares will have its spirit and silently talk to the audience. The “unvarying Tao” can be told.

Curator:
Shao Changzong, Associate Professor, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute
Guo Xin, Associate Professor, Fine Art of Shanghai University; Curator of twocities gallery