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Christopher Jenner tries Chinese tea in Yixing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
Q: Apart from ceramics, are you interested in other things in Chinese culture?
The reason for my continued involvement in design is a commitment to exploring different cultures, and their expression through crafts and art. From this perspective it is easy to see how China is an enigmatic part of this journey. Five thousand years of continued cultural development and progress provides me, as a designer, with an endless array of creative potential. Add to this the changes in China and a renewed interest in the country and its heritage and you have a perfect marriage of creativity and culture.
Crafts I'm particularly interested in are Beijing cloisonné, red lacquer ware, bamboo and paper craft, but I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. There is a universe of potential traditional crafts in China, which will allow us to tell the world about your culture.
Q: Is there a possibility that you will go on using Chinese elements in your future designs?
Absolutely. I see our Yixing project as the start of a relationship with China; we hope and trust our commitment to Chinese culture will be rewarded with more projects of the same nature, allowing us to add our creative potential to the development of this initiative.
Q: What's your favorite thing about China or Chinese culture?
I love your can-do attitude, where anything is possible and there is a shared commitment to making things happen. And then, of course, the food is simply fantastic.
