From bowl makers to artists

If more than 20 years ago someone had told Chao Ziyi and Chao Ziwei — brothers who earned their living making large bowls — that one day they would become artists, they would have laughed it off.

But life often takes unexpected turns. Today, the ceramic works of the brothers from Henan province are exhibited both in China and abroad, while the two also lecture at Jingdezhen Ceramic University in Jiangxi province.

Hearts Entwined, Life Shared, an exhibition currently underway at the university's art museum, traces the brothers' artistic journey over the years. It reflects the twists and turns experienced by the two craftsmen as they ventured into the world of ceramic art with the guidance and support of professional artists and educators.

The exhibition features more than 1,500 works in three categories, demonstrating the broad range of subjects explored by the Chao brothers — including books, shoes, tractors, old gatehouses and animals. Though they never received formal academic art training, they have developed their own distinctive approach to ceramics, a material deeply rooted in China's artistic and craft traditions, using it to convey both personal memories and collective experiences in a contemporary context.