Contemporary Chinese Ceramics- Xu Hongbo

Xu Hongbo was born in 1971 in Jingdezhen, China and gradguated with a BA at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, and a MA at the Fina Arts College at Shanghai Unniversity. Once he graduated, he went on to teach at the Fine Arts College College at Zhaoquing University. In 1996 he made his personal ceramic studio. Hongbo's art is very sensitive to the societal data of China, especially the data of China's reproduction, social issures, and human relationships. He believes that there seems to be a greated value placed on quanity, a measurable standard that all can agree upon, over quality, what counts and determines the inherent value. Perhaps this is because quantity seems absolute while quality seems relative. He is interested in the results of China Super Girland the New 7 Wonders of the World where they had one hundred million people take a survey about cloning. In the results, it seemed that most of these people found it resaonable and an extreme outcome at the same time. He demonstrates his thoughts about this survey in the medium of ceramic by creating an overwhilming pile of cloned babies. With this he is warning us about the further devaluation of human life. Although the babies are identical in appearance and well-nourished, they have lost all individuality.