A set of ice-cream-cone-shaped porcelain works created by Hery, who shaped Mid-Autumn moon into ice-cream balls. The works are on display at the “The Uncommon White” exhibition at the Guan Shanyue Art Museum. Photos courtesy of the organizers

An ice cream cone that will never melt on a summer day. A princess in a 0.2-millimeter-thin robe. A scroll of paper unfurling in the wind. 

All of it — porcelain.

An exhibition celebrating Blanc de Chine — literally “white from China” — opened at the Guan Shanyue Art Museum over the weekend. Titled “The Uncommon White: Blanc de Chine · Dehua Porcelain Aesthetics Exhibition,” it honors Dehua County’s 3,700-year-old porcelain-making tradition.

A visitor observes white porcelain works at the exhibition.

Renowned for its snow-like texture and radiant glaze, Dehua white porcelain has long been admired for its exquisite craftsmanship. It was exported in large quantities to Asian countries during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, and beginning in the 17th century, to Europe.

The exhibition brings together 30 ancient treasures and 190 contemporary masterpieces. Featuring sculptures, tea wares, study-room objects, ritual vessels, daily-use items, and innovative creations, it traces the glorious history of Dehua white porcelain, its cultural evolution, and its technical strengths — showcasing Eastern aesthetics and the enduring vitality of Dehua porcelain.

Porcelain works on display.

The show also gathers 78 contemporary ceramic artists. In the smooth, lustrous, jade-like whiteness of Dehua porcelain, visitors can see how a historic craft has inspired modern breakthroughs.

Over the weekend, crowds gathered around a graceful sculpture titled “Myth.” Created by Lian Deli in 2022, the work draws inspiration from a princess character in Jackie Chan’s film “The Myth.” 

Its charm lies in the painstaking detail of a “chiffon” robe — so thin it measures no more than 0.2 millimeters. At first glance, it looks like sheer gauze, but it is actually porcelain, demonstrating the extraordinary skill and innovation behind today’s Dehua porcelain artistry.

“Myth,” created by Lian Deli. 

Lian previously noted that producing such a piece requires constantly adjusting clay composition and controlling kiln temperatures. Only with meticulous expertise can porcelain be made as tough as it is “as thin as a cicada’s wing.”

Another standout work, “Paper,” created by Su Xianzhong in 2015, is equally astonishing. What appears to be soft, layered paper is, in fact, hard white porcelain — pushing the contrast of “hardness and softness” to an extreme.

Young artist Zhang Heirui (known as Hery) shaped a Mid-Autumn moon into an ice-cream ball, with the jade rabbit perched beside it — prompting a simple realization for many visitors: Yes, porcelain can do that.

“Paper,” created by Su Xianzhong.

A visitor takes photos of a set of ice-cream-cone-shaped porcelain works created by Hery, who shaped Mid-Autumn moon into ice-cream balls.

Dates: Through July 9

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Tue.-Thu., Sun.), 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (Fri.-Sat.), closed Mondays

Tickets: 68 yuan (various discounts available)

Venue: Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Futian District 深圳关山月美术馆

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit F