Li Yanxun: From Ceramic Painting to the Art of Painting Ceramics

Twenty-two years ago, a young artist named Li Yanxun from Chaozhou in Guangdong first set foot in Jingdezhen. Instantly captivated by the city’s allure, he marveled at how the Porcelain Capital’s ceramics weren’t all uniform and identical. Li had spent years mastering ceramic painting to such a level of perfection that collectors would question if his paintings were on paper or porcelain. As acclaim for his work poured in, Li realized that he'd been heading in the wrong direction. What he sought to embrace was the true art of ceramics — he didn’t want to merely paint on clay. And so, it was time for Li Yanxun to leave behind his previous artistic style and embark on a radical new journey.