When collaborative inspiration strikes in the pottery studio, the focus of attention is not on the pottery itself, but the material expression of the glaze, where the glaze is not a paint that adorns the pottery: the glaze is the medium of expression itself and the driving force is the pleasure, the joy – a divine longing, if you will!
Differences in cultural backgrounds, gender, and age did not create barriers; instead, a shared pursuit of artistic creation brought them closely together. Whether in China or in Jingdezhen – the Porcelain Capital – the joy derived from pushing the boundaries of creative expression is far from coincidental.
Jingdezhen, this city of artisans, was once the birthplace of porcelain—the “white gold” of its era. It lies like an open book along the banks of the Chang River, inviting every curious seeker to turn its pages. The studios are open and inclusive; artisans, master ceramists – each generously shares knowledge and skill. And China itself resembles a great book of human possibility, passing the torch of civilization across millennia through visual arts, poetry, cuisine, and music.
Before the exhibition, Torsten convinces PuMu to bring the landscape painting, Image of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, believing that Swedish viewers would connect the work with traditional landscape paintings from the turn of the last century, thereby entering into dialogue with artists such as Karl Nordström and Inge Schöiler. When he asked PuMu for titles of her other works, she replied “Condensation Series”.
The connection between “mountain-water” and “condensation” perfectly captures the breadth and depth of PuMu’s paintings. Classics of Mountains and Seas, compiled over a millennium ago, depicts more than five hundred mountains and three hundred waterways through a style blending the real with the mythical, all inhabited by wondrous fish, birds, and mythical beasts. This ancient text remains a treasure of Chinese cultural and intellectual heritage to this day.
The concept of “condensation” can be understood through the phase transition of water: ice, liquid water, and steam are three distinct forms it assumes under different conditions – each possessing entirely new qualitative characteristics. Through the interplay of clay, glaze, and temperature, PuMu and Torsten experiment with ways to navigate this dialectical process.
This leads to a question: What connects John Coltrane’s “Live” at the Village Vanguard to Bach’s Cello Suites? Is it not precisely that experience which transcends language? “Condensation” quietly emerges when the will of the composer is conveyed through the familiar instrument—we perceive a certain presence within, transforming it into a spiritual experience. While we may analyze artistic forms, the mechanism by which our senses are moved remains beyond words.
The same holds true for the glaze paintings in EYE&EYE: one may analyze the rhythm of the brushwork, the texture of the glaze layers, the technique of glaze application, or the composition and color harmony—yet how the work resonates with an individual’s lived experience differs from person to person. Just as in the creation of glaze painting, the interpretation of nature and life reveals itself through various forms of phase transition.
The exhibition has been displayed at Steneby Konsthall, and it will also be shown at Tomelilla Konsthall in Skåne County following its presentation at Chinea Cultural Centre in Stockholm. Selected works have previously been exhibited at Konsthall Rikstolvan.
Exhibition Date:
2025.09.15 – 2025.10.31
Address:
China Cultural Center in Stockholm
“EYE&EYE”
Opening Ceremony
🕔 Event Date: 2025.09.15 17:00 – 19:00
📍Event Location: China Cultural Center in Stockholm
Two artists will personally present the artworks and tell their stories. Welcome to make an appointment to participate in the opening guided tour.
Registration:
Please R.S.V.P to booking@cccstockholm.org
China’s Stories: BORN IN THE FLAMES
PuMu Huang and Torsten Jurell on the art of ceramic glaze painting of Jingdezhen.
🕔 Event Date: 2025.09.17, 17:00 – 19:00
📍Event Location: China Cultural Center in Stockholm
🎤 Speaker: PuMu Huang and Torsten Jurell
🗣 Language: Chinese & Swedish
About the Speakers：
PuMu (Huang Weihong), born in 1996, graduated from the Mural Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. During her studies, she has worked on the restoration of ancient temple murals, later integrating the acquired knowledge into her glaze painting creations. Her mastery of materials and artistic sensibility have already gained recognition in the Chinese art scene.
Torsten Jurell, b. 1951, graduated from Valand Art College in Gothenburg in 1976 and has a rich and varied track record with, among many things, solo exhibitions at Röhsska Museum and Hallwylska Museum, participation in large international traveling exhibitions and representation in several art and craft collections, for example Gothenburg’s Art Museum and JCU (Jingdezhen Ceramic University ). Since 2011, Jingdezhen has been the base for Torsten’s work. PuMu has been teaching and mentoring Torsten in high-temperature glaze painting, and the idea for the joint exhibition EYE&EYE emerged during these teaching sessions.
Registration:
Please R.S.V.P to booking@cccstockholm.org by September 16. Seats are limited, please refer to the confirmation email for details.
Relevant Notice
*All the events at the China Cultural Center in Stockholm will be photographed and filmed, and the photographs and videos taken in the event will be published. By participating in the events, you agree that you have carefully read, fully understand and agree to this term.
斯德哥尔摩中国文化中心
China Cultural Center in Stockholm
开放时间：周二至周六，10:00 – 16:00
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 -16:00
地址/Address:
Västra Trädgårdsgatan 2, 111 53 Stockholm
官网/Website:
Facebook: China Cultural Center in Stockholm
https://www.facebook.com/China-Cultural-Center-in-Stockholm-110983273921638
Instagram: chinaculturalcenterinstockholm
https://www.instagram.com/chinaculturalcenterinstockholm/
YouTube: China Cultural Center in Stockholm
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYqOYwuQtyTHC-iMNdfExsw
