Chinese musicians
Title: Chinese musicians
Factory: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory (British, 1745–1784, Red Anchor Period, ca. 1753–58)
Modeler: Joseph Willems (Flemish, 1716–1766)
Date: ca. 1755
Culture: British, Chelsea
Medium: Soft-paste porcelain
Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 14 1/2 × 14 1/2 × 14 5/8 in., 30.2 lb. (36.8 × 36.8 × 37.1 cm, 13.7 kg)
Classification: Ceramics-Porcelain
Credit Line: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
Accession Number: 64.101.474
This is a piece from MET. The large group now known as the Chinese Musicians represents one of the towering achievements of the modeler Joseph Willems. In this piece, Willems wanted to use solid porcelain to simulate dynamic singing and dancing. While Willems frequently looked to both three- and two- dimensional models, either to copy or for inspiration, the figures in this group appear to be his creations and notable for both the grace and expressiveness of their poses. Each figure either rings a bell or plays a tambourine, and he or she turns in space, serving to animate the composition. The four figures are linked together by their gestures, and Willems has imparted an almost dancelike rhythm to their arrangement, which reinforces the impression of music making.
This reminds me of the newly invented ceramic generation system based on the latest technology.
In recent years, Google has created a ceramic generation system based on TensorFlow-Morphing Clay, so that everyone can use their own images to generate their own exquisite modern porcelain. Google uses TensorFlow’s PoseNet model to read the user’s body posture in real time. At the same time, google also trained a machine learning model that can classify PoseNet’s poses into the closest ceramic category. For example, a posture with the body standing upright and hands raised is classified as a tall and thin willow bottle. A squatting posture that shrinks relative to the body is classified as a round pomegranate bottle. If TensorFlow determines that your posture resembles a 20% willow bottle, 70% pomegranate bottle, and 10% plum bottle, we will mix a new ceramic shape created by you according to this ratio.
The next step is to generate the pattern. The system can combine your costume images with ancient ceramic patterns through Arbituary style transfer. In this way, you can easily create ceramic patterns that are inspired by your own clothing style, but at the same time combine classical elements.
In the porcelain making process, “kiln change” refers to the change of the glaze surface that has undergone flame calcination, which is unexpected by the producer. The Morphing Clay has the same effect-with different postures and clothing combinations. You can create ever-changing ceramic shapes and patterns.
As a Chinese, ceramics is a traditional Chinese culture that easily resonates with me. In the 18th century, the British were able to break through the limitations of technology and simulate dynamic singing and dancing with people’sdifferent static postures. Let alone the use of colors and the realistic depiction of characters, the idea of using static to embody dynamics has already surpassed the limitations of the times. In the 21st century, the development of science and technology has brought more possibilities for art. People are not limited to using static to simulate dynamics, and even try to “record” dynamics as static. The development of modern technology has not only renewed the traditional culture and art that is about to be lost, but also provided a broader way for the spread of Chinese culture and art. The culture and art of the world are constantly merging. Whether it is the British began creating traditional ceramics hundreds of years ago, or the Google team is using technology to make Chinese culture more beautiful, the integration of world cultures is increasingly enhanced with the convenience of technology, which is a good thing. Those arts and cultures that belong to the nation and the region will eventually be seen and recognized by the world. (Perhaps after a few hundred years, the art history class will no longer be taught in different regions, and it may directly become world art history 😀
