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This section brings together qīqíqǐqì Studio's writings, publications, and selected press coverage. It documents our ongoing research into natural lacquer through artists' journals, critical reflections, and media features, offering multiple perspectives on material practice and contemporary craft.
Natural lacquer is a resinous sap secreted by lacquer trees, classified as a renewable natural resource. Similar to natural rubber, lacquer plays an essential role in both nature and human life due to its unique physical and chemical properties. Globally, trees capable of producing lacquer sap are primarily found in parts of Asia, North America and Central America, with China being one of the major native regions …
It is still early June, just the beginning of the lacquer-tapping season. Every household is busy with preparations before the work begins. I was fortunate enough to take part in the mountain-opening ritual, known as the first cut (fàng shuǐ). This involves a series of detailed tasks, such as sharpening the lacquer knife, hammering in lacquer nails, scraping the bark, and making the first incision to release the bitter water …
The social structures and historical–cultural systems that lacquer carries make it impossible to avoid questions of origin, lineage, and geography. In today’s society, where traditional culture has been institutionalised through state mechanisms, media narratives, and public perception, issues such as whether you were taught by an officially recognised heritage bearer, whether you come from a region known …
In traditional views of art, materials were often considered lifeless until the artist gave them form and meaning. This perspective emphasises the dominant position of the artist, seeing the artist’s intention and skill as the decisive force, while the material merely submits passively. Michelangelo, for example, believed that sculpture already existed inside the marble, and the artist’s role was simply to release it …
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