Ceramic connections

Local to global

To deepen his understanding and passion for traditional Chinese culture, Robert spends most of his free time in local museums' culture and history sections.

He also gets to know Chinese professionals inside and outside the ceramic world.

"I would love to solidify my career as an artist here while helping to link Uganda and China," Robert says.

"Ugandans are thankful, curious, and passionate about Chinese culture. I would love to introduce the artists back home to study and create ceramic artworks in China and promote them to the world."

Zhang says: "Robert has attained the essential spirit of Chinese ceramic arts — fusing and embracing the differences.

"Loving the imperfection and imbalances has been the standard for Chinese ceramic arts and its creations. Some people love slim lines while others appreciate bold lines on the objects; some like various colors while others prefer a monotone."

Many artists in the field consider diversification part of Chinese ceramic arts in its popularization, accepting flaws in the presentation of unique beauty.

According to Zhang, the current trend in the field is to expand many aspects of its artistic value onto the international stage.

"We would love to present Chinese ceramics as both inheriting traditional designs and craftsmanship, and having globalized, modernized components," she says.

Robert says: "To be a modern artist in Chinese ceramics, one needs to comprehend the full flow of production, which requires years of practice and learning."

One of the most challenging areas of creating his pieces involves creating the "ideal shape and thickness", he says. "I fail at times, but I always practice and try again and again."

Zhang agrees with her student, saying that artists should be able to "understand the materials that go into the work, the glazing, the engraving, or the painting of the surface, and everything else related to the creation of the artwork, before calling oneself an artist in ceramics".