Wang Yangkun
Location
Jingdezhen, China
About
Born in 1994 in Jingdezhen, China, Wang Yangkun specialises in contemporary ceramic sculpture and its theoretical exploration. He is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Fine Arts (Sculpture) at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, and a Visiting Ph.D. Student at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), University of Melbourne. Wang has published the monograph Subtle Allusions: Shaping Slabs into Sculpture. His work has received numerous accolades, including the Golden Prize at the 12th China Ceramic Art Exhibition (2022) and the First Prize at the 7th Western China Ceramics Biennale (2021).
Artist Statement
This presentation focuses on shaping slabs into sculpture, examining key works, concepts, and narratives that have emerged in China over the past 40 years. Historically, slab-building techniques were used in ancient China to construct vessels, reflecting the ingenuity of handmade pottery. Since the 1980s, Chinese artists have reinterpreted this traditional craft, incorporating it into contemporary sculpture to create innovative forms of expression.
A notable example is the adaptation of slab-shaping techniques from Yixing, a renowned ceramic center in Jiangsu Province, where methods used for teapot-making—such as cutting, folding, layering, and rolling—are transformed into sculptural processes. These approaches imbue works with striking structural dynamism and visual tension, forming a unique aesthetic that bridges tradition and modernity.
Beyond China, this presentation also highlights influential artists worldwide who have explored slab techniques, showcasing their diverse approaches and contributions to contemporary ceramic sculpture. These global and local practices collectively reframe slab techniques as a vital creative language, expanding the expressive possibilities between ceramics and sculpture while fostering cross-cultural dialogue.