王新篤第22回釉裡紅瓷器特展 - 金彩世界

千錘百鍊終成鋼 ── 王新篤釉裡紅瓷器藝術

　　生肖屬龍的王新篤，投入釉裡紅藝術創作領域長達三十年，二十歲就讀國立藝專美工科時，他便立志向失傳多年的釉裡紅挑戰。他從各方面蒐集到的資料中，得知古人燒製出的釉裡紅缺點甚多；不是因釉藥太厚而流滴，便是因釉藥太薄而飛逝，其中尚有大多數燒成褐色或黑色，沒有把釉裡紅最美的境界表現出來。八百年來，釉裡紅像是戴上面紗的一位神秘女子，令人高深莫測，敬而遠之。人們一直以「最難拿捏是深淺，千載難逢釉裡紅」來安慰自己。一旦將釉裡紅燒製成功，都不敢相信自己的手藝，而認為是上天的恩寵所致。

　　王氏為了揭開釉裡紅神秘的面紗，常把一天當兩天用，終日埋首工作室，經常廢寢忘食，不分晝夜。「三更燈火五更雞」、「衣帶漸寬終不悔」這就是他多年的工作境界。 1981~1982 年，獲得台灣省手工業研究所全國工藝大展「 青花瓷」、「釉裡紅」獎。知道自己走對了方向，釉裡紅將從他的手中再生，對自己的研究更具信心。經過兩年的準備；1985年，王氏的作品「青花釉裡紅僧帽壺」被比利時博物館收藏。這份來自國際間的肯定，極具權威性，所帶給他的鼓勵也是無限。這榮譽讓他又驚又喜；喜的是他更能探索到釉裡紅的神秘，驚的是他要在這個世紀裡，把釉裡紅的真相揭露出來。

　　 1986至1987年，在日本的神戶舉行了兩次個展，他的釉裡紅作品令日本人大開眼界，為之著迷。會場裡參觀的人，個個駐足回首，流連忘返。1988年由日本返國後至今 2008 年，平均每兩年舉辦一次個展，發表新的研究創作成果。1988年，楊英風教授將王氏的作品「釉裡紅三魚杯」帶到北京，展示給大陸書法家趙樸初先生欣賞，趙先生為之驚訝，以為是江西景德鎮的精品。後經北大的歷史學者認定為真正的釉裡紅，當時大陸還無法燒製成功。回來後又經故宮副院長譚旦冏先生的肯定和讚許，王氏用「倒吃甘蔗，漸入佳境」來慰勉自己。

　　為了做為釉裡紅的繼承者，不但終日與泥土、釉藥、窯爐為伍，視它們為好友，視作品為至愛。因為一件作品的孕育要花大量的心血。為了有健康的身體和強壯的臂力去創作，他不吸菸、不飲酒、不過夜生活，每日生活作息極為規律，每週還得抽空去健身房鍛鍊身體，為的是要保持最佳狀態，好有精神和體力去挑戰明日的難度。他常說既然是上天選定了他，他也選擇了釉裡紅，他要釉裡紅在自己手中繼往開來，進而發揚光大，把釉裡紅的神秘之美展現在大眾眼前。

　　王氏是位有使命感和責任心的藝術家，鍥而不捨工作了三十年，因為他的努力，不但掌握了釉裡紅的特性，還突破了古人燒製的技術。同時；逐漸加上綠彩、黃彩、金彩等釉色，大量使用紅、藍、金三原色，一併燒製而成，這是中國五千年來沒有過的釉裡紅作品。再配合「法花」的凸顯效果，讓作品創作的領域更寬廣，內容更豐富，意境更優雅而高遠。多種色彩的組合及法花的構成，是非常艱難的技術；非但在古物中看不到，就連當代的陶藝家也無法成功地燒造出真正釉下多彩的釉裡紅。他的創作不是抄襲和固步自封，而是傳承加以變化，將「CHIAN」瓷器藝術推向更高的境界。

Refined into Steel – The Art of Wang Hsin-tu's Underglaze Red Porcelain

　　Belonging to the Year of the Dragon, Wang Hsin-tu has been engaged in the art of underglaze red for more than 30 years. When he was 20, he enrolled in the Department of Arts and Crafts, National Junior College of the Arts, determined to challenge the mission of reviving the extinct art of underglaze red. From information he gathered elsewhere, he came to realize the historical drawbacks of making underglaze read porcelain. Either the glaze was too thick, which resulted in dripping; or too thin, so that the drawing faded after firing; most pieces turned brown or black after firing. Hardly anybody experienced the supreme beauty of underglaze red. In the past 800 years, underglaze red seemed to be a veiled and mysterious beautiful woman; few caught a glimpse of her true face. Not knowing its secret, people chose to ignore the art. In addition, artists comforted themselves with the saying, “It is difficult to control the tincture, and underglaze red can be achieved only once in a while.” Even if they were successful in firing underglaze red porcelain, they did not believe it was the result of their artisanship, and instead, they thought it was heaven's blessing.

　　In order to unveil the secrecy of underglaze red, Mr. Wang spent each day working as if it were two days. Deeply attracted to his work, he neglected food and sleep – working round the clock. The old sayings, “Candlelight at midnight and the cock tells the time at dawn” and “Have no regrets for sacrificing your health for success” were the best words to describe his dedication. From 1981 to 1982, he won the “blue and white porcelain” and “underglaze red” awards in the National Craft Exhibition sponsored by Provincial Taiwan Craft Research Institute. By that time, he knew that he had found the right way. Reviving the craft of underglaze red in his hands, he felt more and more confidence in his research. After two years of preparation, in 1985 his work “Underglaze Red Monk's Cap” was collected by the Belgium Museum . Such authoritative assurance from an international institution gave Hsin-tu endless encouragement. In addition, he felt surprised and rejoiced with this honor. He felt happy because he had discovered the way to make underglaze red porcelain successfully. He felt surprised because he unveiled the truth of underglaze red in this century. 　　In 1986 and 1987, he held two solo exhibitions in Kobe , Japan , where his underglaze red porcelains surprised the Japanese. Amazed by these marvelous works, the audience lingered around in the exhibition hall just to see these works repeatedly. Returning from Japan in 1988 until now (2008), he partakes in solo exhibitions and publishes new books every one to two years to present the fruits of his research. In 1988, Professor Yang Ying-feng took his “Underglaze Red Three Fishes Cup” to Beijing , and showed it to the calligrapher Mr. Chao Pu-chu in Mainland China . Mr. Chao was greatly amazed. He even mistook it to be the antique made in Jingdezhen , Jiangsi. Later, historians in Beijing University verified it to be authentic underglaze red porcelain. At that time, nobody could fire any underglaze red porcelain successfully. Returning from Mainland China , Mr. Tan Dan-jiong, the Deputy Director of National Palace Museum , praised Wang highly. Hsin-tu encouraged himself with the old Chinese saying: “Eating sugar cane becomes sweeter and sweeter.”

　　 In order to become the inheritor of underglaze red, his only friends are clay, glaze, and kiln; and his love is porcelain. From time to time, it requires a huge effort to cultivate a work. In order to keep fit and train the strength of his arms, he never smokes, never drinks, and has no nightlife. He lives a regular life and even works out everyday regularly in the gym. By staying in the best physical and mental conditions, he can have the spirit and strength to challenge the difficulties awaiting him tomorrow. He always says, heaven chose him, and he has chosen underglaze red. It is his determination to inherit the craft of underglaze red porcelain and develop it further by demonstrating the beauty of underglaze red in front of everybody.