Emerging Hands Debut: A Captivating Journey with Artisan Sun Mei Ling

2025年10月25日

What an unforgettable launch for Emerging Hands: Dedicated Craft Artisans! Our series, dedicated to uncovering the quiet brilliance of local handcraft creators, kicked off today with a live show that drew an enthusiastic crowd of viewers from near and far. Thank you to everyone who joined us—your energy made the event electric, and we're thrilled that several audience members even snapped up Sun Mei Ling's stunning Jianzhan pieces on the spot. It's moments like these that remind us why we started this series: to bridge the gap between hidden talents and the world that cherishes their work.

We had the privilege of visiting Sun Mei Ling's studio earlier today—a serene, impeccably organized sanctuary buzzing with creative intent. There, her kiln had been roaring for a couple of hours already, building toward the pivotal moment we witnessed: the reduction process. With steady hands, she rolled up the kiln lid of her horizontal electronic kiln, revealing a mesmerizing rush of flames and swirling smoke that danced like living embers, a testament to the controlled chaos of her craft—far removed from the traditional dragon kiln's dramatic cracks. Now fully immersed in solo artistry after years of invaluable mentorship from her teacher, Sun Mei Ling embodies the essence of dedication: a passionate Jianzhan creator who handles every facet of the process with graceful precision

From centering and throwing supple clay on the wheel to meticulously trimming her forms, she moves with the rhythm of someone deeply attuned to her medium. She then grinds mineral stones into ethereal powders, blending them into bespoke glaze slips that must age to perfection—confidential recipes guarded like ancient scrolls. Prepared days or weeks earlier and placed in buckets for aging, these glaze waters are essential for unlocking the desired effects; we spotted rows of them, each bucket a secret vessel holding formulas tailored to create distinct patterns on her Jianzhan works. The glazing follows, a meditative layering that sets the stage for the kiln's transformative fire, which she orchestrates with the intuition of an alchemist.

Her glazes are nothing short of mesmerizing, each one a testament to Jianzhan's poetic unpredictability. Dive into the profound mystery of her Wujin: an inky black expanse alive with golden sands and precipitated blue gem-like crystals that catch the light like hidden stars. The Partridge Feather glaze unfurls in vibrant iridescence, each feather-like plume blushing with ox-blood red accents that evoke the flush of dawn. Then there's the Blue Hare's Fur, where clusters of tiny bubbles form delicate furrows, each encircled by a shimmering metallic halo that dances in the glow. And her newest innovation, the Yohen series, masterfully weaves hare's fur textures with oil-droplet cores, all enveloped in radiant, obsidian-like sheens that shift from deep void to cosmic sparkle.

Sun Mei Ling's path to mastery began just seven years ago, when she decided to dive into Jianzhan with zero foundation in ceramics—no prior experience, just raw curiosity and a deep passion that led her to apprentice under a mentor. When we asked what drew her to Jianzhan, her response was as unadorned as it was inspiring: "I simply love it—utterly obsessed with the singular, shimmering uniqueness of every piece."

And her vision for the future? Even more profound: "I want to devote myself to something I truly love and keep doing it until I'm old." For her, Jianzhan holds a deeper mission—to become as ubiquitous and beloved as porcelain itself, woven into the fabric of daily life for more and more people. She envisions it not just as an art collector's prize, but as an essential companion: sipped from for tea, coffee, or water; cradling rice or soup in humble bowls. "Jianzhan can be an art collection," she shared passionately, "but most importantly, it has to enter everyone's daily life." But passion alone doesn't forge a master; perseverance does.

During the live show, we delved deeper: "What was the most difficult moment when you felt like giving up?" Without hesitation, she shared the raw truth—it was those grueling early days learning to throw the clay. "The clay is so heavy," she recalled, "and pulling up the mud to shape even a simple cup felt impossible at first. I spent two weeks practicing non-stop, hour after hour. It was boring, frustrating—my shapes kept collapsing, nothing like what I envisioned." Yet, in that monotony lay the spark of her triumph; each failed form built the muscle memory that now flows effortlessly from her hands. The challenges didn't end there—the firing technique proved equally daunting, a labyrinth of complexities from perfecting the glaze water formula to dialing in precise kiln firing times, balancing reduction and oxidation atmospheres. Through endless trial and error, she gradually unlocked the secrets, mastering the elusive patterns that make each piece a one-of-a-kind wonder. Her story is a quiet anthem for anyone chasing a craft: the beauty emerges not just from the kiln, but from the unyielding grip on the wheel and the patient dance with fire.

That vulnerability—and the raw thrill of her craft—resonated deeply with our audience: a lot of participants tuned in, with lively discussions on everything from glaze hunting tips to the joy of collecting functional art—and now, the grit behind the glamour. The chat truly exploded during one heart-pounding moment: when Sun Mei Ling donned her fire-proof mask and rolled up the kiln lid for the critical reduction phase, unleashing a wave of intense heat and anticipation. She emphasized the mask's vital role, recounting a sobering close call: "Once, I forgot to wear it, and the extreme temperature—1300°C (2372°F)—instantly scorched my forehead." The room went wild with gasps, cheers, and rapid-fire questions about her inspirations—from Song Dynasty lore to the serendipity of kiln surprises—and stories of how her pieces have become cherished parts of daily rituals, like a favorite teacup that turns a quiet morning into a meditative ceremony. And the best part? Several lucky viewers became proud owners of her creations right then and there—Wujin cups that promise to hold not just tea, but the quiet narratives of mornings savored slow, steam rising like whispered secrets from the depths of inky glaze.

After the show wrapped, Sun Mei Ling opened up even further about the human side of sharing her world: "I'm not very good facing the camera," she admitted with a shy laugh. "My voice was trembling, and my back was sweating the whole time you had it on me." It's this endearing humility—paired with her unshakeable passion for the craft—that makes her all the more relatable and inspiring, a reminder that even masters feel the nerves when stepping into the spotlight.

If you missed it, don't worry; we're just getting started. Sun Mei Ling's episode is a perfect entry into the world of Emerging Hands, reminding us that true artistry thrives in the hands of those who create for love, not acclaim—and who push through the heavy clay to reveal the shimmer within.

Stay tuned for more artisans whose hands weave magic into the everyday. What's your favorite handcraft tradition? Share in the comments below—we'd love to hear and might feature it next!

《匠手新生》首播：孙美玲的窑火传奇

《匠手新生：手工匠心》系列首播，简直让人回味无穷！这个系列本就旨在挖掘本地手工匠人们的隐秘光芒，今天的直播一开场，就吸引了大批热心观众从四面八方涌来。感谢每一位陪伴我们的朋友——你们的热情让现场火热无比，更让我们惊喜的是，好几位观众当场就抢购了孙美玲的建盏精品。这样的瞬间，正是我们创办这个系列的初心：让这些低调的才华与热爱它们的世界紧密相连。今天早些时候，我们有幸踏入孙美玲的工作室——一个宁静井然的创意净土，空气中满是专注的张力。窑炉已熊熊燃烧了几个小时，正蓄势待发，我们亲眼目睹了那决定性一刻：还原过程。她稳稳掀起卧式电窑的窑盖，一股火焰与烟雾如活物般翻腾而出，宛若舞动的余烬，完美诠释了她工艺中那份掌控中的狂野——远非传统龙窑需“破窑”般惊心。

如今，她已完全独立创作，承蒙导师多年倾囊相授，孙美玲正是“匠心”精神的化身：一位热爱建盏创作艺术的创作者，以优雅精准驾驭每一个步骤。从车床定心拉坯、细致修整，到研磨矿石成梦幻粉末、调配专属釉浆——这些秘方如古籍般严守不泄，必须经时日陈化才能臻于完美。釉水是数天甚至数周前预备好的，静静陈放在一排排桶中，是唤醒理想效果的关键。我们一眼就瞥见这些神秘容器，每一桶都藏着独门配方，专为建盏上绽放不同纹理而生。上釉如冥想般宁静，为窑火的炼金奇变铺就舞台，她则以炼金师般的直觉主导全程。

她的釉效，简直是建盏诗意的极致演绎，每一种都诉说着不可预料的魔力。沉浸乌金釉的深邃：墨黑底蕴中金砂闪烁，析晶蓝宝石般结晶如隐星捕光。鹧鸪羽釉绽放绚烂虹彩，每片羽纹晕染牛血红，唤醒黎明绯红。蓝兔毫釉则以微泡聚成细毫，周遭金属光晕在辉映中舞动。还有她最新的曜变系列，巧融兔毫纹理与油滴芯，外裹曜石般璀璨光晕，从虚空深渊转瞬成宇宙星辉。

孙美玲的匠路，始于七年前决定投身建盏时——对陶瓷制作完全零基础，只有纯粹好奇与深沉热爱，她随即拜师学艺，开启这段旅程。我们问她为何钟情建盏，她答得朴实却动人：“我就是太爱它了——完全迷恋每件作品那独一无二的、闪烁魅力。”她的未来愿景更触人心弦：“我想全身心投入真正热爱的事，一做就到老。”在她眼中，建盏肩负更深使命——如瓷器般，被越来越多的人熟知、使用，融入日常点滴。她梦想它不只是收藏珍品，更是生活挚友：盛茶、咖啡、水；捧米饭、汤羹的朴实碗盏。

“建盏可以是艺术珍藏，”她热情洋溢，“但最要紧的，是它得走进每个人的日常。”但爱意不足以铸就大师，坚持方是真谛。直播中，我们追问：“最想放弃的艰难一刻是何时？”她直言不讳——那是最早学拉坯的日子。“泥土太沉重，”她忆道，“拉起泥料塑个简单杯子，起初像不可能的事。我连轴转两周练，一小时接一小时。那过程枯燥又挫败——形状总塌，完全不像想象。”可正在那单调中，藏着胜利火种；每一次失败，都铸就如今的手感流畅。难题不止于此——窑烧技艺同样迷宫般复杂，从釉水配方到精准控温时长、还原氧化氛围平衡，她凭无数试错，逐步破译，掌握了营造独特纹理的火之奥秘。她的故事，如一首低回的匠人颂歌：美丽不止窑火生，更从紧握车轮的不屈、与火焰的耐心共舞。

这份真挚——加上工艺的原始激情——深深触动观众：众多人在线围观，热议从釉效探秘到收藏实用艺术的乐趣——如今又添了幕后坚毅的华章。聊天室在高潮彻底炸锅：孙美玲戴上防火面具，掀起窑盖入还原阶段，那热浪与期待如潮涌来。她强调面具命关重要，忆起惊魂一瞬：“有回忘戴，窑温极端——1300°C（2372°F）——额头瞬间灼伤。”全场惊呼欢腾，问题如雨倾盆，从宋代典故到窑变惊喜，还有观众分享她的作品如何点亮日常——如一只爱杯，将晨间宁静化作冥想仪式。最妙的是，几为幸运儿当场抱走她的创作——那些乌金杯子，不止盛茶，更承载故事：每一缕热气升腾间，仿佛诉说着窑火的低语与时光的细腻印记。

直播落幕后，孙美玲更敞开心扉，谈分享世界的“凡人”一面：“我不善镜头前，”她害羞一笑，“摄像机一转我，声音就抖，后背直冒汗。”这份可爱谦逊——配上对匠艺的执着——让她更亲切、更激励人心，提醒我们：大师也曾在镁光下心跳加速。