Zhao Family Kiln Introduction
Zhao Family Kiln, established in March 1988, is located in Daya District, Taichung City. The main products are lifestyle pottery, and the hand-painted lotus tea set is a distinctive feature. They intentionally differentiate their hand-painted ceramics from regular market products, aiming to deepen and pass on local culture, hoping to promote and implement what they have learned into everyday life. The three brothers, Zhao Sheng-jie, Zhao Sheng-yong, and Zhao Chong-yuan, grew up in a family of artisans. Their grandfather (Zhao A-jiing) and father (Zhao Yi-hsiung) were wood craftsmen specializing in the production of exquisite wooden products for export to Japan. With exceptional skills, the three brothers chose to study fine arts. During their schooling, they were exposed to various fields of art and crafts such as sculpture, photography, ceramics, painting, and design, laying a solid foundation for their craft creations influenced by their family background, leading to a unique aesthetic experience in "pottery in daily life." After graduating, Zhao Sheng-jie, upon recommendation from a teacher, became an apprentice at Tianxing Kiln in Jiji. Fifteen years ago, Tianxing Kiln was undergoing a transition, shifting towards lifestyle pottery. During his two years in the kiln, Zhao Sheng-jie learned practical experiences such as wood firing and glazing before returning to his hometown, Daya District, Taichung City, to establish "Yutaofang" as a professional pottery studio. He opened a dedicated ceramics store in a department store, leveraging contemporary marketing concepts. As a family-run pottery company where he directly communicates with consumers, and with the involvement of his younger brothers, Zhao Sheng-yong and Zhao Chong-yuan, the business was renamed "Zhao Family Kiln." In recent years, they have designed a series of new-style tea sets, which have received significant recognition through the channels of department stores and pottery tea shops. The Zhao brothers have held solo exhibitions at the Taichung City Cultural Center and the Meilin Art Museum in Chiayi, focusing on integrating their creations into everyday life. In recent years, they have frequently created tea sets and dining utensils and collaborated with "Gengdu Garden" for activities like the "Lotus Appreciation Festival." Zhao Sheng-jie has been actively developing and designing innovative ceramic products, having been selected for the annual evaluation of ceramic products in 2003 and 2004 in the "Daily Use Ceramic Category," and was invited to showcase at the "Creative Ceramics Pavilion" at the 2003 National Community Development Annual Conference.
