Tseng Shu-chih exhibition honors 90 years of traditional pottery

The Miaoli Ceramics Museum has launched a special exhibition titled ‘Clouds Follow the Dragon, Mud Follows the Heart,’ honoring the 90-year life and career of master potter Tseng Shu-chih. The exhibition, which runs from August 26 to September 28, celebrates Tseng as a recipient of the Taiwan Ceramics Heritage Achievement Award.

Tseng is recognized for his lifelong dedication to traditional pottery, specifically the declining ‘hand-pinched’ technique. He is particularly renowned for creating massive ceramic jars, a process that requires immense physical strength and expertise in kneading, shaping, and firing clay. His works are noted for their thick, stable forms and the visible traces of his hands and tools, which reflect the connection between the artist and the earth.

The exhibition aims to showcase the cultural value of traditional Taiwanese ceramics and the resilience of artisanal craftsmanship. Local officials noted that the event serves as both a tribute to Tseng’s mastery and an effort to preserve the cultural memory of the land through ceramic art.