Porcelain sculpture with a 0.2 mm-thick dress displayed in Shanghai
The WorldSkills Museum in Shanghai is displaying the white porcelain sculpture “Myth” by ceramic artist Lian Deli at the “CHINA White” exhibition. The work depicts Princess Yushu, a character from Jackie Chan’s 2005 fantasy film “The Myth.” As ECNS reports, the sculpture has become the exhibition’s centerpiece.
Delicate porcelain details
The 72-centimeter-tall statue features detailed strands of hair and clothing with flowing folds. The figure’s translucent dress is 0.2 millimeters thick, while individual porcelain hairs have a diameter of about 0.3 millimeters. According to the publication, visitors sometimes doubt that these elements are actually made of porcelain.
Lian Deli is a ceramic artist and a recognized bearer of the Dehua porcelain tradition, which dates back to the Ming dynasty period of 1368–1644. To create the ultra-thin elements, the author tested hundreds of clay formulas over several months. He ultimately achieved a result that made it possible to fire thin porcelain sheets without cracking.
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A bet with his son
According to ECNS, work on the sculpture began after the artist made a bet with his teenage son, who often skipped classes. The son suggested that his father create a figure of the princess. According to the source, he kept his end of the agreement and returned to his studies.
Together with his wife, Zeng Bizhen, Lian Deli refined the technology and received a national invention patent. The sculpture “Myth” was permanently acquired by the National Museum of China and the Shanghai Art Museum. The artist noted that continuity lies not in copying but in developing in accordance with the times, and that education requires two-way communication through empathy.
