YANG Zong-Jia

Gleaming Innocence

2024.January.6 — February.4

Hiro Hiro Art Space is pleased to present YANG Zong-Jia’s solo exhibition, on view from January 6, 2024 to February 4, 2024. Through the fragile porcelain sculptures, YANG hand-builds a diverse series of innocent children, each delicately embellished with lustrous translucent glazes. The spiraling pastel-color clay coils are reminiscent of the magical transformation sequences swirled with enchanting glow, seeking to transform into “Gleaming Innocence.”

Innocent children are born with an untarnished heart, while vulnerability is the medium through which their courage is established. Without the need to be meticulously polished, they still emit an effulgent luminosity like a diamond. YANG Zong-Jia has long used porcelain as his artistic medium—an inherently fragile and unpredictable substance, mirroring the very essence of vulnerable life. However, he believes that vulnerability in this contemporary era is not synonymous with timidity, as acknowledging vulnerability is also an expression of courage.

Beyond hand-coiling the porcelain clay into exquisite forms, YANG Zong-Jia distinguishes himself from traditional fine china through adept experimentation with diverse visual effects achieved by overlaying different underglazes, slips, and overglazes onto the porcelain clay. For instance, the same glaze color can unexpectedly manifest variations in hues and disparate textures when applied onto different glaze foundations. Employing techniques such as hand-brushing and airbrushing further allows for nuanced control over glaze density and saturation, creating a multiplicity of appearances within a singular medium. Moreover, each glaze has different temperature tolerances, implying that one artwork must undergo a minimum of three to four firing cycles. Despite the time-consuming process, YANG eschews settling for a singular outcome, akin to life where compromise remains a choice yet can be embraced bravely to unfold different facets of grace. He utilizes his profound comprehension of the medium’s characteristics, pushing the boundaries to uncover additional dimensions of artistic potential. With courage in the face of potential setbacks, the delicate “innocent children” porcelains undergo numerous exposures to varying temperatures, ultimately adorning themselves in unparalleled gorgeous garments. YANG embellishes each figure with delicate details—tiny stars, dots, and other adornments—that emanate a subtle yet captivating radiance when shimmering in the reflection of light. These detailed embellishments can be seen as YANG Zong-Jia’s bestowal of a courageous insignia upon their fragilities.

In this exhibition, the work Transforming draws inspiration from two works named “Crystal,” which are the novel Crystal Boys by a Chinese writer, Pai Hsien-yung, and the anime Sailor Moon Crystal, adapted from Japanese manga artist Naoko Takeuchi’s manga. Crystal Boys portrays the marginalized position of the Chinese gay community in society, yet each boy, despite vulnerability, radiates an inherent brilliance like crystal. Sailor Moon Crystal subverts the traditional role of males as primary protectors, emphasizing that girls also possess resilient protective strength. Whether boys or girls expressing their crystalline essence, they all shine with their purest forms, akin to flawless crystal gemstones.

Transforming Compact is not crafted with the intent of treasuring the beauty of crystal gemstones, but rather amasses the purest essence, transforming into a force of metamorphosis. Vulnerability may cause wounds, but acknowledging vulnerability with bravery allows healing and forming new skin. Like the surface of works such as Silver Erosion and Black Butterfly, they crystallize into rustic silver ore and profound black charcoal, respectively. Each gleams its own splendor, unveiling its beauty through a transparent innocence. With bowed heads, closed eyes, and softly pursed lips, a silent anticipation awaits the subtle recognition of their true visage.

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Featured works

YANG Zong-Jia

YANG Zong-Jia, born in 1992 in Taiwan studied at Tainan National University of Arts, majoring in Material Arts and Design before earning his Masters in Applied Arts from Tainan National University of Arts Graduate Institute. Yang Zong-Jia is skilled in ceramics, fiber, and multimedia combinations of sculptures and installations. He won the gold prize of the 9th National Art sculpture awards in 2019, the first prize of the 6th NEXT ART TAINAN Awards in 2019, the first prize of the 3rd Taiwan Young Pottery Artist Award in 2017 and was collected by Sunpride Foundation and HCG.

Selected CV

2024
“Gleaming Innocence”, Hiro Hiro Art Space, Taipei, Taiwan

2022
“In the Name of Love, Courage & Hope”, Mizuiro Workshop, Tainan, Taiwan

2021
“Under the delicate”, Hiro Hiro Art Space, Taipei, Taiwan

2020　
“Moment of Disobedience”, Mizuiro Workshop, Tainan, Taiwan

2019　
Arts Residency solo exhibition, Shanghai Art & Design Academy, Shanghai, China
“The Invisible Dimensions”, Aglow Art Space, Tainan, Taiwan

2018　
“Pink longing: YANG Zong-Jia Solo exhibition”, diida ART BOX, Taipei, Taiwan

2017　
“Angels of sex” , Lalaland, Arkansas, USA
“Bailang Tao-Tao Solo exhibition of YANG Zong-Jia”, Art B12, Changhua, Taiwan

2016　
“Small Star Burning Bright”, YIRI ARTS, Taichung, Taiwan

2015　
“Healing body theory”, SHIN KONG MITSUKOSHI Tainan Fun Centre Art corner, Tainan, Taiwan

2013　
“O2&CO2”, Mizuiro Workshop, Tainan, Taiwan

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