Zhu Di

Biography

Zhu Di was born in Anhui province in 1969. After graduating from the Department of Ceramic Design of Beijing Central Academy of Arts and Design (now a part of Tsinghua University) in 1991, Zhu taught drawing and painting at Hefei University. He later moved to Venice, Italy, where he taught Chinese Language at the University of Venice.

While Zhu had dabbled in ceramic arts since his youth and through college, his renaissance in the medium can be traced back to the summer of 2003 when he first set foot in Jingdezhen, the ceramics capital of China. Although only a short stay, the trip to Jingdezhen proved to be an important sojourn as it was here that he re-established his Chinese roots after a decade in the west. After the initial trip, Zhu began to frequent Jingdezhen as his ceramic works started to develop a following and he was increasingly invited to exhibit in Venice and Rome. This ushered in an important period in his evolution as a ceramic artist as he cross-fertilized western aesthetics with Chinese ceramic traditions. In 2008, Zhu published the book The Soul of Venice, Reflections in the Water Captured by a Chinese Artist (Marsilio Editori, Venice), a photographic study of the waters of the famous canal city. This exploration of colours, hues, light and patterns through water photography increasingly imbued his sense of aesthetics with abstract forms. Today, abstract shapes are a fundamental part of Zhu’s unique brand of ceramic art.

It is appropriate that Zhu has chosen Flambé Glaze as his ceramic medium, for its barely-constrained bursts of colours, forms and textures lends spontaneity to his abstract renderings of seasonal landscapes and topography, best exemplified by his Himalayas series.

Zhu’s works have now made their way into auction houses with increasing frequency, commanding valuations befitting of works and mediums more commonly considered auction mainstays. Auctions conducted by China Guardian, one of the most established auction companies in the world for Chinese works, have seen Zhu Di’s ceramic works fetch prices several times higher than estimates. There is arguably no better time than now to include Zhu’s works in one’s private ceramic collection, for both personal enjoyment and the potential value appreciation in one’s investment.

Exhibitions

2006 -- Invited as foreign artist at the Venetian ceramists’ exhibit
“Bochaleri in campo”, Venice.
Solo exhibit of ceramics during “Mediterranea. Festival
Intercontinentale della Letteratura e delle Arti”, Rome.

2008 -- The Soul of Venice Solo photography exhibit at Palazzo Vendramin Calergi .
11th Contemporary Chinese Ceramic Art Exhibition, Hangzhou.

2009 -- Shanghai Spring Art Salon, Shanghai.
The Soul of Venice, Solo exhibit of ceramics and photography, Beijing-Tianjin.
12th Contemporary Chinese Ceramic Art Exhibition, Hangzhou

2011 -- Invited at the Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition, Ningbo Museum.

2012 -- 8th Biennial of the works by Chinese contemporary young ceramic artists, Hangzhou.
Observing the Way, New Academic Painting on Ceramic Art Exhibition, Nanchang.
15th Contemporary Chinese Ceramic Art Exhibition, Hangzhou.
First Contemporary Chinese Ceramic Art Exhibition, Beijing.

Achievements

2009 -- 12th Contemporary Chinese Ceramic Art Exhibition. Excellent Work Award, Hangzhou.

Publications

2008 -- Publication of the book The Soul of Venice. Reflections in the
Water Captured by a Chinese Artist, Marsilio Editori, Venice.

The Italian Rai News Channel dedicated a special report on his works
His works have been published in art books and specialized academic journals such as Taojian, Con-fine, Art, The Fine Arts World, Ceramics Science and Art.