I learned about Yii when my brother sent me a link from MAKE of their brick and mortar bowls, below, but upon further investigation I learned that Yii is actually an initiative by the Taiwan Craft Research Institute. Some of their other pieces, in addition to the bowls, are out of this world — and in one of my favorite materials, porcelain.
I love porcelain because of how it can glow and carry translucence. Its own depth can change its color and pattern, I love it. It’s like the watercolor of ceramics! This one was designed by an artist named Ching-Ting Hsu but made by another artist, Tsun-Jen Lee. I like this collaborative effort too!
It’s hard to tell in this picture but this is a sofa! It’s made of interwoven bamboo strips and it looks pretty sturdy. It’s made in a cocoon construction, which seems to be a favored form at Yii.
Another image of the cocoon form designed by Rock Wang. It is actually made of silkworm cocoons, I’m not sure how that was done but the result is almost opalescent.
Above is the piece that started my interest. This is actual brick and mortar somehow hand carved or turned to create a shape and surface that you usually only see with wooden bowls. So incredible, scary, and delicate!
Isn’t that so incredible? I truly think sometimes that porcelain is a material unlike any other that completely changes a work when it’s used. I love the idea of a porcelain bundt pan, a material for an object that so clearly wouldn’t work.