Yang Hongwei is recognized senior arts and crafts master and disciple of Xu Men. She is also a member of the National Association of Female Ceramic Artists.
Born in May 1971 in Yixing, the capital of ceramics, Yang Hongwei developed a strong passion for ceramics and a love for purple clay from an early age. After graduating from high school in 1991, she entered a purple clay factory to learn the art, starting her journey as a purple clay artist.
For over a decade, Yang has dedicated herself to the craft of purple clay pottery, diligently studying and training without interruption. In recent years, she has had the privilege of studying under the renowned senior craft artist Xu Weiming, receiving rigorous technical training and systematic practice in pottery techniques. She has also pursued further studies at the Jiangsu College of Business Administration's Department of Industrial Art, greatly enhancing her craftsmanship and sculptural theory.
With a solid foundation laid over her artistic journey in purple clay pottery, Yang has become proficient in and adept at using the full manual production techniques of purple clay. Her works primarily feature traditional forms, characterized by firm and flowing lines, appropriate proportions, simplicity, and a sense of calm. Her innovative designs often incorporate animal motifs, infusing her works with vitality and earning widespread acclaim and popularity in the market.
One notable creation is "The Boat in the Desert," a teapot designed specifically for Yang by Professor Guo Zhenhua. This teapot draws inspiration from the image of a "resting camel," conjuring up the tranquility of a desert stretching for thousands of miles with smoke rising in the setting sun. The spout and handle of the teapot are adorned with the head and tail of a camel, while the knob resembles a camel hump, evoking the indomitable spirit of the nation, characterized by resilience, determination, and upward striving. The curved lines and sand-like embellishments on the lower part of the teapot symbolize the winding desert paths and the sound of camel bells. Through this teapot, the artist infuses her deep emotions for the desert, capturing the spirit of the camel in the hearts of people.
Another creation worth mentioning is the "Hantang Stone Gourd" teapot. The beauty of a purple clay teapot lies in its five qualities: ruggedness, elegance, uniqueness, roundness, and rhyme. The stone gourd teapot is a classic form in the realm of purple clay teapots. Among various styles of stone gourd teapots, the Hantang Stone Gourd stands out with its robust simplicity, dignified stability, and an overall sense of elegance, uniqueness, roundness, and a delicate pale beauty, fully exemplifying traditional forms and grandeur. (Entirely handmade)
