GO OUT with Guangcai

Yuet Tung China Works & SingChin Lo & Joey Leung

Guangcai, also known as Canton porcelain, is hand-painted ware on white porcelain. Canton porcelain is known for its vibrant colors and intricate patterns. Historically made for the export market, Canton porcelain is a unique blend of Chinese and Western aesthetics.

Using the painting techniques and pattern designs of guangcai, SingChin Lo and Joey Leung have transformed this traditional Cantonese craft into camping fashion. This guangcai-inspired collection features ready-to-wear outfits, camping gear and ceramic ware, combining craftsmanship with utility.

Story of the Traditional Craft

As the first hand-painted porcelain factory in Hong Kong, Yuet Tung China Works ordered white porcelain body from China and Japan on which they painted drawings by hand, and the painted porcelain were sold to Western Europe, South America and the United States. Operated by a family of three generations and specializing in porcelain bowls with painted flowers in the past 90 years, today, there are merely four craftsmen working in the factory, and the painted porcelain produced by them are the rare remaining ones in the local painted porcelain industry.

Guangcai has a history of more than three hundred years. Back in the Qing dynasty, guangcai was being sold overseas, and foreign royal families as well as commissioners would come to Guangzhou to purchase, hence guangcai is also known as “export porcelain”. Guangcai is characterized by its vibrant colors, rigorous composition and sophisticated brushstrokes, using a combination of bright pigments of gold, pastel (fencai), blue, green and black, resulting in a luxuriant effect. The pattern depicted on the objects are landscape commonly seen in the Lingnan area. To cater for the taste of the European and American markets, guangcai has incorporated themes of Western religious myths and hunting scenes, or ribbons of butterflies pattern in bright red and green colors, which further accentuate the vibrancy of the array of colors. Europeans and Americans hence also named guangcai as “Canton Rose”.

The porcelain industry is an integral part of the local art, cultural and historical scene. In the twentieth century, as an international trading port, Hong Kong has developed its own unique style of porcelain, known as “Hong Kong ware” (Gangcai), characterized by rich and varied shapes and ornaments, innovative techniques, combining the cultural elements of the East and West while possessing a distinguished local style. The porcelains were popular among locals as well as foreigners, and it marked the heyday of Hong Kong’s porcelain. In the 70s, Governor Murray Maclehos’ spouse Lady MacLehos was also attracted by the craft of guangcai, and she sent her own sketch to Yuet Tung China Works to have the design customized. The factory afterwards named the design as the “Governor’s motif”.

 

Making Process

There are a number of steps required in the production of guangcai. First is the selection of white porcelain body. As the suitable clay could not be found in Guangzhou, porcelain were not fired locally, and the white porcelain body for guangcai are mostly delivered from Jingdezhen in Jiangxi, which will then be painted on following the design of the craftsman. The paintings are developed from the traditional methods of the Lingnan school, while blending the Western oil painting techniques onto the basis of traditional Chinese painting. The ornamentation is more regular, the patterns are highly decorative, which are generally framed and grounded, with the major theme centred, and a clear distinction between the main and peripheral subjects, which at the same time compliment each other. From the pre-war period to the 60s, each craftsman has his own specialized pattern, for instance, some craftsmen specialize in the frame, and some in roosters. While this can ensure the quality of the painting, it also serves as a kind of patent which protects the craftsmen’s profession. When the printing technique was invented, the pattern outlined in black glaze paint will be printed on the surface, and the defined areas will be hand painted in glaze paint. The layers of glaze paint are relatively thin, but the colors are rich and vibrant. Among them, pink, iron-red and green glaze are considered darker colors, and the rim is commonly painted in gold with patterns, which conveys a luxuriant and opulent feeling. When the glaze painting is completed, the object will be fired in the kiln of 800 degrees celsius.

What is most particular about guangcai is the composition, which is also the most difficult skill to master. In the old days, the masters were so experienced that they were able to accurately outline intricate patterns with bare hands without requiring any modification, while today, there are only a few remaining porcelain painting masters who can excel in this skill.

Artworks from same series

OTHER WORKS FROM EXHIBITION

Lunar Luster

Fanson Lam

See Details

Eternal Illumination: A Journey Through Time

Fanson Lam

See Details

Silent Timekeeper

Fanson Lam

See Details

The Cypress’s Whisper

Liu Wing Sheung

See Details

Tribute

Liu Wing Sheung & Fanson Lam

See Details

The Legacy of Time

Liu Wing Sheung & Fanson Lam

See Details

眾裡尋她千百度

邱穎琛 & 吳茂蔚 & 郭斯恆

See Details

Mahjong Wanderlust – Hong Kong Theme

Ricky Cheung & Karen Aruba & Andypoll Chan

See Details

Seek Her in a Thousand Degrees

Brian Kwok & Clive Ng & Kiki Yau

See Details

Restoration of Kai Kee Rooster Neon Sign

Wu Chi Kai & Brian Kwok

See Details

Sternhalma

PAK & KC

See Details

Arise in Gallops

Siu Ping Keung & Ken Chow

See Details

Back to the Future

Fanson Lam & Jacky Lam

See Details

Somewhere in Time

Cecilia Lai & Barnard Chan

See Details

Bon Voyage

Liu Wing Sheung & Fanson Lam & Jacky Lam

See Details

A Blessing

Lui Ming & Inkgo Lam

See Details

Wood Tectonics-The Floral Pairs

Yip Chun Hang & Jesse Hao & Roy Ng

See Details

Hong Kong Mosaic

Linus K & Chow Man

See Details

The Passage

Wong Kin Hung & Jacky Lam

See Details

Club Chair

Jonas Lutz

See Details

Quiver Stool

Jonas Lutz

See Details

Being Together (Sun & Moon)

Vivian Law & Justin Chan & Ken Chow

See Details

Chamber of Time

Siu Ping Keung & Ken Chow

See Details

Wood Tectonics-The Notch

Yip Chun Hang & Jesse Hao & Roy Ng

See Details

The Array of Joints

Ken Chow

See Details

Cabinet with Rattan Baskets

Cecilia Lai & Barnard Chan

See Details

Vice-Versa

Lau Wai Cheong & Ken Chow

See Details

Heliocentrism

Damian Boylan

See Details

Wood Tectonics-The Stack

Yip Chun Hang & Jesse Hao & Roy Ng

See Details

When & While

Kanok Wan

See Details

Symphony of Weaves

Cecilia Lai & Barnard Chan & Ken Chow

See Details

Yuwakashi (kettle)

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

The Wishes of the Return

Liu Wing Sheung

See Details

Craft-ligraphy

Wah Gor & Nathan Wong & Hazel Lee

See Details

Streamline Sake Cups

Yasutaka Oohashi

See Details

Yuwakashi (kettle)

Yasutaka Oohashi

See Details

Swallow Incense Burner

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Round Peacock Incense Burner

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Silver Chrysanthemum Incense Burner

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Four Mythological Creatures Lid Lifters

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Guinomi Sake Cup ー Natural & Kurourushi ー WAN/ FUJI/ BAMBOO/ DON

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Whale

Yve Chan

See Details

Kyūsu

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Hemp Leaf Pattern Tray

Ting For Chun

See Details

Tea Caddy

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Copper Cooking Pot

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Yuen

Gamzar & Michael Yu

See Details

Different Angles

Yve Chan

See Details

Mirror

Fanson Lam

See Details

Alembic Copper Still

Luk Shu-Choi and Luk Keung-Choi & Dimple Yuen & Ivan Chang

See Details

The Guardian of Hope

Fanson Lam & Liu Wing Sheung

See Details

Four Seasons

Peter Ng & Luk Shu-Choi and Luk Keung-Choi

See Details

Re-united

Jimmy Hui & Yve Chan

See Details

Sake Cup

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Flower Vase RAPPA SLIM

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Coffee Drip Pot

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Off Course

Tamotsu Nishimoto

See Details

Teppachi Morikago

Tamotsu Nishimoto

See Details

Takezaiku Basketry

Tamotsu Nishimoto

See Details

Triangular Tray

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

Chrysanthemum Patterned Night Light

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

Boat-shaped Woven Fruit Basket

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

Moonlight Gardenia

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

The Dawn of Life – Tangle

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

Taiwan To Go!

Benjamin Wang

See Details

Tea Leaf Storage Baskets (Tight-plaited and Sparse-plaited)

Benjamin Wang

See Details

Picnic Basket

Benjamin Wang

See Details

Lamp (Fruit Tray, Duck-feeding Bowl, Chicken Cage)

Benjamin Wang

See Details

Copper Teapot with Woven Handle

Ting For Chun & Luk Shu-Choi and Luk Keung-Choi

See Details

Hexagonal Chrysanthemum Pattern Coaster

Ting For Chun

See Details

Coffee Filter

Ting For Chun

See Details

Tea Funnel 

Ting For Chun

See Details

Lantern

Ting For Chun

See Details

Moon Halo

Ting For Chun

See Details

Pavo

Dylan Kwok & Chan Lok Choi

See Details

Reborn Merman

Jinno Neko & Cheung Foon

See Details

Swirly

Lawrence Ting & Tuck Chong Sum Kee

See Details

Emerald Lotus

Luk Shu-Choi and Luk Keung-Choi & Anthony So

See Details

Liberty of the Wind

Lam Duen Shan Ming

See Details

Thousand Knots Qipao

Polly Ho

See Details