1989 June, born in Dalian, Liaoning province, China
2008 Bachelor degree, China Academy of Art (CAA) Pottery department
2012 Master degree, CAA Pottery and Craftment department

After sixteen years of learning pottery, Qu Jing realized that every piece of clay she had ever used came from either an academy or the commercial market. She recognized that this reliance had limited her understanding of clay’s intrinsic possibilities as a material.

Her awakening began when she discovered a uniquely colored clay on a hillside behind the academy. That discovery inspired her to begin a series of experiments. These experiments gradually became bolder: mixing different clays and even herbal fibers, firing at various temperatures, and applying unconventional forms of contact and treatment. This exhibition presents the most recent results of her ongoing explorations.

Qu Jing lives and works in Hangzhou. Her attachment to the city led her to search for a deeper connection between her artistic practice and the local landscape. She returned to the same hill, gathering clay from different altitudes, which introduced surprising variations into her work. Every stage of preparation, including filtering, washing, mixing, and kneading, is performed by her own hands. Through this intimate process, she develops a deeper knowledge of her materials and a stronger appreciation for them, motivated by a desire to reach the very essence of pottery.