Zhang Shuyu - Lotus Field Pottery Workshop Introduction
"Located in Chushan Township, near the southern side by Xiaohuang Mountain, Chentan Lane is filled with lotus flowers and water lilies throughout the seasons, resembling a paradise on earth. Zhang Shuyu is the owner of the Chentan Lotus Field Ceramics Workshop. Zhang Shuyu is a local child from Chushan Township in Nantou County, yet he has a great passion for painting. His spontaneous doodles inspired him on his creative journey. After experiencing the naivety of childhood and the struggles of youth, he resolutely dedicated himself to creation shortly after completing his military service. ■ Devoted to Painting and Sculpture The rural life of his childhood enriched Zhang Shuyu's creative inspiration. Each of his works resonates with viewers and has received numerous awards. In 1992, he held a solo exhibition of his Western paintings at the Taichung Cultural Center, which was a great encouragement for him at just thirty years old, leading him onto the path of professional creation. Along his artistic journey, he engaged with both painting and sculpture. He believes that painting is a form of flat art expressing two-dimensional space; meanwhile, three-dimensional sculpture not only expresses deep emotional currents but also requires consideration of various angles in its structural form, demanding greater expressive power and offering the creator more freedom in their expression. Zhang Shuyu's sculptural works are widely admired, with notable pieces such as "Little People Rhapsody" (2003), "Scenes of Life" (2004), and the "Shadows and Thoughts" series (2008), which are among his representative works. ■ The Beauty of Authenticity and Acceptance of Flaws The majority of Zhang Shuyu's works depict figures, using mud glaze or non-glossy glaze to present an authentic and unembellished texture. The traces left by bamboo knives showcase fine pores and muscular lines that convey a visceral reality, inadvertently revealing the beauty found in the tragic flaws of life. Zhang Shuyu states, "This world is inherently imperfect; let the works retain some space." Balancing between exaggeration and restraint, there exists a tragic atmosphere reminiscent of Lu Xun's "Ah Q," with an ongoing interplay that stirs the viewer's inner thoughts, which is precisely where Zhang Shuyu's success lies. Particularly in the "Shadows and Thoughts" series, he directly projects floating shadows upon the works, where differing interpretations of "consciousness" and "subconsciousness" intertwine, illustrating a complex relationship between people and shadows, harboring an unpredictable expression of human nature in the real world, leaving the true protagonist of the work ambiguous and showcasing the diversity of Zhang Shuyu's creative philosophy. ■ Skillful Landscape Design and Friendly Sharing It's hard to imagine that such a sharp creator as Zhang Shuyu retains the pure-hearted nature of a rural person. He also enjoys landscape design, having single-handedly created the scenery around the Chentan Lotus Field Ceramics Workshop. Surrounding his ancestral home are about two acres of land, featuring lotus fields, lily ponds, and ecological ponds, along with wooden pathways, small bridges, and pavilions, resembling a paradise on earth. To foster friendships with like-minded individuals, the former workshop space has been transformed into a beautiful garden café, which attracts numerous visitors who linger in its charming atmosphere. However, to avoid disrupting his creative time, the café is only open to the public on weekends. Zhang Shuyu has a passion for promoting ceramics, and one can witness his live creations at public ceramic demonstration events and at the Chentan Lotus Field Ceramics Workshop. (Text and images from the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute)"
