VANCOUVER, CANADA
WEI CHENG
Be Loved Lid Project 017
In my “Be Loved” series, I repurpose antique lids by integrating them into newly
crafted ceramic jars. These once-discarded and often overlooked lids are given
renewed relevance through vessels designed specifically to receive them. The jars
are spaces of memory and reimagining, challenging assumptions of completeness,
utility, and worth.
The lid in this piece is an antique Japanese example, originally made for an iron
cast kettle used in traditional tea ceremonies. With its stylized bud-shaped knob
resting on a petal-like base, the design suggests it was likely crafted in Kyoto. Such
iron kettles (Kyō tetsubin) were made as unique pairs, with each lid cast in the
same mold as the kettle body and hand-finished to fit precisely. Because of this
bespoke process, replacement lids were never produced, making each one a
singular, irreplaceable object.
Here, I honor that tradition not only by echoing the aesthetic resonance of
the lid through a celadon glaze but also by carefully matching the weight, visual
balance, and rim finish between lid and vessel. I chose a rectangular form, in
contrast to the usual round jar, to create a sense of balance and tension. Layers of
clay were added to build mountain-like textures, suggesting landscapes emerging
through mist. The knob itself leans slightly to one side, perhaps the result of long
years of neglect, but I chose not to correct it. For me, this gentle tilt adds character
and personality, embodying resilience and quiet beauty.
This piece draws on the old Chinese saying “orchids blooming quietly in an empty
valley,” evoking delicacy, fragility, and strength. It is a meditation on how
traditions endure, transform, and continue to bloom across time. At its heart, this
series work, asks us to see value in what has been overlooked, to honor the
imperfect, and to imagine how objects, like people, like us, carry their histories
forward while embracing new possibilities.
Dimensions: 4.7"H x 7"W x 5.7"D
Material: Clay (Wheel throwing, Carving, and Wood firing) and Antique Metal Lid (found objects)
Artwork ships: beginning october 22nd
Be Loved Lid Project 017
Artist Statement
About the Artist
WEI CHENG
Other works from the WHAT HOLDS Exhibition