Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Yin Lu) news: On September 9, 2024, "Xinjiang Pottery Art Exhibition" took place in the China National Arts and Crafts Museum, and it will continue until November 24, 2024.

This exhibition features a diverse collection of pottery artifacts discovered in Xinjiang dating back to the pre-Qin period. It also highlights Uygur molded pottery firing techniques, which was included in the representative list of State-level intangible cultural heritage items. The pottery collection includes a wide range of items such as pots, pans, plates, bowls, bottles, and basins, each displaying various shapes and patterns. These pieces are not only artistic but also practical. Moreover, the collection consists of both plain and glazed pottery, with the glazed pottery available in dark green, light green, brown, white, yellow, red, and other colors, showcasing the rich diversity and aesthetic appeal of Xinjiang pottery.

Photo shows the "Xinjiang Pottery Art Exhibition" held in the China National Arts and Crafts Museum. (Photo by Jia Leilei)

The process of making pottery involves mixing earth or clay with water and other materials, shaping the mixture, allowing it to dry, and then firing it. Pottery crafted by people from different regions reflects local cultural characteristics and has adapted to their living conditions. This has contributed to the preservation and evolution of this traditional craft.

The pottery of Xinjiang and its production methods are deeply intertwined with the daily lives of the people of all ethnic groups, reflecting a fusion of diverse cultures. This cultural blend is a product of exchanges along the Silk Road, playing a significant role in enhancing the cultural unity and identity of the Chinese nation. Even to this day, the pottery firing techniques are extensively utilized in Kashi, Turpan, and various other places across Xinjiang.

Photo shows the "Xinjiang Pottery Art Exhibition" held in the China National Arts and Crafts Museum. (Photo by Jia Leilei)

While preparing for the exhibition, the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum organized personnel to conduct field research in Xinjiang and visited many inheritors of pottery making. The inheritors strictly adhere to the process of pottery-making techniques, such as blank-making, carving, drying, glazing, and firing. They constantly innovate in pattern design and hollow carving techniques. The patterns used on pottery include all kinds of flowers, leaves, grapes, feathers, fish, birds, and so on. This allows people to express their expectations for good luck and a better life, giving pottery a rich cultural connotation.

Now, there are dozens of pottery workshops at Gaotai Ancient Homes and ancient city of Kashi in Kashi City, Tumushuke Pottery Art Museum in Tumushuke City, Xinjiang Damo Pottery Art Museum in Turpan City, and Pottery Village in Yengisar County. In these places where pottery is produced and inherited, nearly 100 kinds of earthenware daily necessities and decorative articles can be seen. Xinjiang pottery has become a unique business card for the promotion of cultural tourism resources.

The exhibition is held by China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, the Culture and Tourism Department of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and is funded by the China National Art Fund.

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