A kiln's new flame

In Shekeng village in Sanming city, Fujian province, the smoke curling from a pottery kiln has borne silent witness to the passage of time. The kiln, standing for more than 200 years, now breathes with renewed vitality under the care of a couple born in the 1990s.

Returning to their roots, Wu Zejian and Ma Jingwen have taken up the mantle not only to safeguard an ancient craft but to rekindle its potential through modern design, allowing the fire of the kiln to glow with contemporary resonance.

A graduate from the Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts, Wu holds a firm belief that the kiln's fire burning for generations in his family will never die out. His ambition is to build a brand that channels new energy and relevance into this ageold craft through thoughtful, modern design.

As the inheritor of the family craft, Wu stays true to tradition, using local clay and raw mineral glazes. His father, Wu Yusong, provides invaluable guidance shaped by decades of hands-on experience.

While Wu Zejian lights the fire for a new batch of ceramics, Ma brings psychological insight and contemporary sensibilities into product design. Focusing on coarse pottery and ash-glazed products, they emphasize craftsmanship and design.

"We want to give each piece a soul and a story. Through a touching phrase or a unique design, an ordinary cup can become an emotional vessel, a spiritual symbol for its user," Ma says.

Through branding and innovative design, the couple aims to make their brand a cultural landmark that fosters a sense of identity and connection among users.

Looking ahead, they hope the millennium-old kiln fire will illuminate broader horizons. As newly fired porcelain emerges from the kiln, the couple's blueprint for the future grows increasingly clear.

In the short term, they plan to deepen their work in the studio, refining product quality under Wu Yusong's guidance. Through online outreach and targeted market channels, they hope to find their first community of resonant users. Over the medium to long term, they aspire to establish their own brand and create a multi-functional space for exhibitions, research, and tea gatherings.

In their studio, the couple carefully designs new porcelain, embedding their hopes for the future. Through continuous exploration and innovation, they strive to create distinctive ceramic works that carry forward the essence of the local culture.