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Residency @ Caicifang Porcelain Studio Beijing

Published by gertrud

From April till June 2021 I was invited to show my mosaic works at the Porcelain Studio “Caicifang”. The porcelain studio and shop Caicifang is located in one the old alleyways in the touristy area just south of Tiananmen Square. Whenever I cycled to or from my home to the porcelain studio I passed that gigantic Square with Mao’s portrait hanging on the wall to the forbidden city in the north.   I was introduced the the studio by my friends Sanny Wroblewski in May 2019 on a stroll through this area. Back then it was mainly a shop that sold souvenirs made with ancient porcelain shards set in sliver or wood. That afternoon we met SuNan the porcelain conservation specialist who is running the visitor service and workshop that the project acquired in the house just opposite. He and his team are creating a very special atmosphere in the old Hutong space – guiding every visitor through the exhibition of ancient porcelain vessels, beautifully kintsugi restored porcelain bowls, old maps, opera costumes and embroidery …

A stroll through Paris

Published by gertrud

On my way to Berlin I stopped over in Paris to finally see our grandson Lukas. He lives with his parents downtown near the Bastille and so I walked through the narrow streets around there with the stroller. Lifting my head up, I often noted small icons made of mosaic. The small figures they depict often resemble the creatures of early computer games adding modernity to the medieval beauty of the city centre. They are small often just discovered by a quick gaze up a building making you smile as they are colourful and cute. A couple of weeks later this beautiful mosaic at the entrance of the SoHo house in Paris tumbled into my inbox. I so much appreciate friends sending me their mosaic discoveries. Austin wrote about his impression of the mosaic: “cool minimalist, gestural mosaic – I think it is a super lovely piece”  

The sky of Brasilía in Beijing

Published by gertrud

  I am always intrigued if it is possible to depict something so imaginary, untouchable and lofty like clouds with the rigid and physically palpable, coming from earth material that we use to make mosaic – stone, glas and ceramic tile. In this work I used bass relief technique to bring even more depth into the image. Working with hard material who’s hight I can easily influence makes this technique possible. In the container that left Brasilia End of February 2019 was the unfinished “Sky of Brasilia” mosaic – well wrapped and crated. End of 2019 after setting up my studio in Beijing I finished the sky, grouted the mosaic with different coloured grout and framed it.  After having exhibited the “Sky of Brasilía” in 2021 at the Caicifang porcelain studio in Beijing just south of Tiananmen Square, the Brazilian embassy in Beijing offered to add it to their art collection. It was my last great moment in Beijing to hand the mosaic to the Brazilian ambassador to China Mr Paulo Estivallet de Mesquita and his …