A Chinese Hoax_ Poler
Both the molds for the icebergs, and the polar bear figures were given to me by Snow Yu. Snow is a a ceramicist currently studying at the University of Cincinnati, and formerly an employee of the Pottery Workshop in Jingezhen, China. This photo was taken in front of Snow's studio in Jingdezhen. Polar can be seen in the bottom left corner.
"As global temperatures rise and the sea ice melts, polar bears must travel ever greater distances to find food, meaning they have to burn more calories...changes to the polar bears’ environment may make it impossible for them to meet their high energy demands, resulting in a rapid decline in their numbers." -Polar bears more vulnerable to starvation due to climate change, according to new study, The Independent, Josh Gabbatti
A large, unfired tile purchased from a local vendor. Then "icebergs" were created, using a mold made from rocks, which I borrowed from Snow Yu. These were cast from pure white Jingdezhen porcelain, which is known for its clarity, hardness, and translucency. They were joined to the tile, the ocean was sponged with slip, and glazed with a blue celadon glaze. The polar bear, also borrowed from Snow Yu, was cast in a mold made from a child's tor