"Daily, Broken", these two ordinary words carry a sense of melancholy when placed together, a feeling of loss and repetition. The sculpture bearing that name reflects some of the same emotions. The porcelain shines coldly under the Paris lights, more like a sad dream woven by the sculptor, than fired clay and glaze.
The sculptor's name is Liu Jianhua, from the Art Department of Yunnan University. After working for eight years in Jingdezhen, the birthplace of China's porcelain, Liu began to show an interest for porcelain that developed into a passion. Using porcelain as a medium to express complex emotions has become Liu's trademark. Most of his works are concerned with the inner world of people's feelings.
"Indulged Memory" is another work that records an emotional journey, the one taken by the sculptor himself. The colors, craftsmanship and stimulating patterns produce a shocking visual effect, a contrast from the muted "Daily, Broken". It is simple, placid, but more likely to provoke the viewers’ thoughts and memories.
This style of work is not commonly featured in galleries, so it was bound to spark some criticism and controversy. Liu Jianhua's work, however, manages to be at the leading edge of art while retaining the ability to show human emotion. "Daily, Broken" is definitely worth a second look.
(CCTV.com February 19, 2004)
