About the Exhibition
Exhibition Dates: May 4th - May 30th 2024
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Time Window:
9 am to 9 pm Monday - Thursday
9 am to 5 pm Friday
9 am to 2 pm Saturday - Sunday
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Location:
Friendship Heights Village Community Center 4433 S Park Ave, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Yue Ware History
Yue ware, a distinctive form of Chinese ceramics known for its celadon glaze, holds a significant place in the realm of southern Chinese pottery. While often referred to as "green porcelain," this label can be misleading, as its colors range from grey to olive to brown. This style of pottery originated from the Yue kilns in Northern Zhejiang, China, particularly in the Jiyuan area near Shaoxing. Its name stems from the historical Yue Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn period. Yue ware initially emulated bronze vessels with precision. However, it evolved into a true form of ceramic art, characterized by graceful shapes and intricate designs. Notably, it marked a pivotal shift in Chinese ceramics by introducing non-toxic glazing suitable for serving food and drink. Fired in dragon kilns at high temperatures, Yue ware achieved its celadon hues through an ash glaze composed of wood ash, clay, and possibly limestone. Its influence extended far beyond China, reaching regions as distant as the Middle East and East Africa, with shards even discovered in Iraq. Refined varieties, like the "Mi-se Yue ware" found in Famen Temple, featured a smooth and thin glaze in light colors. Moreover, Yue ware played a crucial role in cultural exchange, influencing Korean celadons, particularly in terms of glaze color, while inspiring the development of distinct Korean styles during the Koryo Dynasty. Today, Yue ware stands as a testament to ancient pottery techniques, serving as a bridge connecting cultures through its exquisite beauty and historical significance.
About the Artist
Chen Pengfei was born in 1963 in Zhejiang, China. He holds a university degree and has been engaged in ceramic research and production for over forty years. He currently serves as a Chinese master of ceramic arts and crafts, a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage "Yue Kiln Celadon Firing Techniques" in Zhejiang Province, a National First-Class Senior Technician, Deputy Director of the China Ancient Ceramics Professional Committee, Visiting Scholar and Distinguished Researcher at the Art Center of the Asian Cultural Institute in the United States, Vice President of the Zhejiang Silicate Society, Visiting

Professor at Zhejiang University of Technology's Energy Materials and Applications National International Cooperation Base, Visiting Professor at the School of Business at Jiaxing University, Honorary Director of the Zhejiang Dong Yue Kiln Celadon Museum, Deputy Director of the Sugar, Tobacco, and Alcohol Association of the China Collectors Association, Standing Committee Member of the Jindezhen City Association for Science and Technology, People's Representative of Jindezhen City, Chairman and General Manager of Shangyu City and Jindezhen City Sanxiong Ceramics Co., Ltd., and Director of the Yue Kiln Celadon Research Institute.
Under the guidance of domestic experts, he has devoted over forty years of effort to successfully reproducing representative works of Yue Kiln celadon from various periods. His replicated works have gained recognition and praise from multiple domestic museums and experts due to their resemblance in quality, form, and spirit. This has revitalized the "Pearl of the Porcelain World," Yue Kiln celadon, which had been lost for nearly a thousand years, and brought forth its brilliance once again.