Chao Er Tai

1988後

Well

POST WINGS

This three-dimensional work, "The Thinker," was completed at Zhao Erdai's long-time residence and creative space, "Art Slave Studio (Erdai Art Museum)." Unlike sculptures created solely for display purposes, this piece was originally a functional object—a cigarette ashtray—fully embodying Zhao Erdai's artistic attitude of integrating creation with daily life.

The work is handcrafted from clay, and the shape does not pursue proportion or realistic accuracy. Instead, it follows the intuition of the hands and the weight and fluidity of the clay, forming an image of an old man with a reserved expression and a forward-leaning posture. The figure has a long beard, and while the facial features appear somewhat coarse, they are distinct, reflecting a significant self-projection characteristic that can be seen as a faint representation of Zhao Erdai's own image.

The concave space of the ashtray naturally integrates with the figure's embrace and body structure, ensuring that "function" is not concealed but rather becomes part of the shape. The glaze, after high-temperature firing, exhibits natural flow marks of deep brown, black, and earthy red, recording the nuances of heat, time, and randomness. This also responds to his consistent pursuit of the aesthetic spirit of "unrefined, allowing it to unfold" in his ink painting practice.

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