International Ceramic Biennale 'When Humans Meet the Earth' Opens with Artists from 21 Countries Gathering at Yingge Ceramic Museum

The biennial global ceramic arts extravaganza, '2026 Taiwan International Ceramic Biennale,' officially opened today at the New Taipei City Yingge Ceramic Museum! This year's exhibition is curated by renowned Japanese curator Tomohiro Onaga, gathering 59 top-tier artists from 21 countries worldwide. Together, they present 85 extraordinary ceramic masterpieces that transcend imagination, weaving a profound dialogue titled 'When Humans Meet the Earth.' Among them, 11 works are from Taiwan.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi attended the opening ceremony today (15th), stating that Yingge is the soul of Taiwan's ceramics, and the Biennale serves as a window for the world to see Taiwan. He emphasized that this exhibition is not only an artistic exchange but also a significant milestone in New Taipei City's cultural diplomacy. The event attracted distinguished guests, including representatives from cultural and arts institutions in Austria, South Korea, Japan, and the President and Vice President of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), demonstrating Yingge's strong international appeal and the convergence of global artistic energy in New Taipei.

The most geographically impactful piece in this Biennale is undoubtedly 'Landscape' by Japanese artist Aiho Aso from Tokoname, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns. Spanning over 7 meters wide, this monumental work exudes majestic presence. Aiho Aso creates through a method he calls 'recording the behavior of land,' flattening famed Tokoname clay from his hometown into paper-thin sheets and firing them at high temperatures, thereby solidifying each fragment with traces of transformation. For Aiho, clay is more than material—it is a vessel recording time. Every subtle crack in the work reflects the physical journey of soil from moist to dry, and reborn through fire. Under the curatorial theme 'When Humans Meet the Earth,' the piece invites viewers to re-examine the familiar yet deeply scarred land beneath their feet, feeling the natural rhythm transmitted from fingertips to soul.

The '2026 Taiwan International Ceramic Biennale' will be on display from today until December 27 in the third-floor Special Exhibition Hall of the Ceramic Museum. Centered on the core theme 'When Humans Meet the Earth,' the four galleries explore distinct sub-themes.

In Gallery One, 'Earth—Landscape,' Korean artist Lee Jong-min's 'Untitled' stands out as a visual focal point. Using an ultra-fine dental drill, he repeatedly engraves the surface of white porcelain, transforming thousands of minute movements into silk-like natural textures—an almost breathless display of meditative craftsmanship.

In Gallery Two, 'Cycle—Life, Abundance, and Death,' Austrian artist Michaela Meisl's 'Sushi Collection in Progress' creates a vibrant, humorous ensemble of marine life, adding imaginative color to serious themes.

In Gallery Three, 'Myth—Stories,' Korean artist Woo Kwan-ho's 'Fish ICTUS (ΙΧΘΥΣ)' poses a thought-provoking question, merging myths of 'God creating man' and 'Jesus multiplying fish' to reflect on how humans evolved from dependent recipients of nature's bounty to apex predators consuming everything.

In Gallery Four, 'Artificial—Urbanization and Civilization,' Australian artist Gudrun Klix presents 'On the Table,' setting a stage on a colonial-era old cedarwood table and constructing fragile ceramic shacks upon it. This powerful installation awakens forgotten indigenous memories buried deep within the land, prompting deep reflection.

The '2026 Taiwan International Ceramic Biennale' is a grand feast of earth converging global energies across time and space. From today until December 27, the public is invited to step into the Yingge Ceramic Museum to experience the warmth of life and contemporary contemplation carried by ceramic art. For more exhibition information, please visit the museum's official website (https://www.ceramics.ntpc.gov.tw) or Facebook fan page (https://www.facebook.com/YCMuseum).

Group photo at the opening ceremony of the '2026 Taiwan International Ceramic Biennale' at the Ceramic Museum.