Jong Ceramics also makes unique sculptural ceramics which are hand built or slip-casted.
Currently, creating gongshi ceramics sculptures is the artistic obsession. The series of gongshi sculptures are inspired by the spirit stones of the Chinese literati.
These spirit stones were originally found in nature and on occasion enhanced by carving and piercing the stones, or making inscriptions. The rocks were often brought to the scholars from remote places, the finest coming from riverbeds or mountains. From as early as the Neolithic period — nearly 7,000 years ago — prized stones and jade have been found buried in tombs. It was not until the late Tang dynasty (618-907) that scholar’s rocks were collected in earnest. In the Song dynasty (960-1279) we begin to see their influence on Chinese literature and have been regarded as scholar stones, literati stones or spirit stones since.
Jong Ceramics strives to be as green as possible and therefore almost everything is saved as much as possible, included recycled trimmings, throwing water, and sediment washed off equipment and tools which is collected in a bucket or under the sink. Jong Ceramics hand built sculptures are made from the reclaimed residue of used clay. The reclaimed clay is left to dry to a consistency where you can handle the clay without it being watery and then wedged so it can be used again.
