Liu Chuan

CHINA, Guangdong, Shiwan

Liu Chuan, whose original name was Yongchuan, was a ceramic sculptor from a family of pottery heritage. At the age of 12, he began as an apprentice in a pottery workshop where he created several imitations of ceramic works by the well-known artist, Pan Yushu. At 18 years old, he earned an initial reputation from his sculpture of the great war hero, Zhang Fei. He devoted his life to ceramic arts and advocated an artistic ideology that stated, “Beginning is better than ending, concealing is better than revealing.” He eventually developed a unique and distinctive style of his own.
Liu’s sculptural works, consisting primarily of decorative and folk figures, were created with immense ingenuity and are classical and delicate in nature. An extremely diligent artist, he produced over 4000 pieces during his lifetime. In 1979 he was granted the honorary title of Craft Artist of China, which was later advanced to Master Craft Artist of China, a title given to only a handful of eminent craftsmen. Several of his sculptures received high praise and acclaim when they were exhibited at the London Exposition.
His works, Crimson-Glazed Bodhidharma, Crackle-Glazed Su Wu Herding Sheep, and Gray-Glazed Toast to the Moon, are all kept at the Xinshiwan Fine Arts Ceramics Factory in Foshan. Additionally, Liu’s statue, Arhat with Long Eyebrows, is retained at the Foshan City Museum in Guangdong.