Coloring culture

Portuguese ceramics often feature blue-and-white color combinations, says Chinese ceramic artist Bai Ming, who visited Lisbon for an exhibition in July. Lin Qi reports.

It is said that after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama returned home from his historic voyage (1497-99) that linked Western Europe and Asia via a maritime route, he presented tributes to King Manuel I that included Chinese qinghua porcelain.

Since then, cobalt blue-and-white ceramics have become part of Portuguese life.