TRANSLATION | Eugenia Yang
譜寫時代印記，由演員、導演、琉璃藝術再到白瓷工藝，用人生講述傳奇，從器物裡藏著歷史的回聲，充滿詩意的交往，他是王俠軍，打下了「中華瓷器文化復興者」之名，細數每件作品背後都是他對於生活提煉的詮釋與巧思。
品官窯浪漫
回首瓷器千年歷史脈絡，王俠軍用十餘年的努力，克服了瓷土高溫瓷化收縮龜裂和玻化坍踢變形的問題，終於解放瓷器僅止於單純圓筒狀造型的束縛，讓瓷器玩出多花樣，增加人文古意的優雅浪漫與互動趣味，不依靠筆觸、色彩來妝扮優雅。說起八方新氣「白瓷」其特色，其白並非人工上色的白釉，而是瓷土本身經高溫焠鍊後所顯出的原白色。白，代表曾經工藝的高度，以時代簡潔疏朗的造型結構， 俐落明快的光影層次，演繹現代都會明亮的剛健豪情。提起去年於新竹舉辦《虛室生白》瓷器展覽，展現了王俠軍選擇白瓷燒製之初心，白瓷如君子謙謙，心虛廣納，也代表了君子處事的修為，他更透露今年六月份將規劃一場回溯品牌創立 17 年，瓷器新時代風采之展覽。
重塑瓷之美
走入台北新氣藝廊，透過物件去尋找生活主張與品味，藏家在注視著作品中，點滴投射出內心的想像與對白，讓器皿增添一份靈魂與歸屬。視線移至木檜桌上的一組茶具，名為 「行雲」，講述著王俠軍於台北生活所感，器皿形體宛若盆地，山水的連結於淡水河，燒瓷的工藝與平衡，體現出俐落與簡約美感。從茶壺出發，清水模下的光影，都是台北碎片的紛擾。茶過三巡，王俠軍想起了法國消費社會學家歐海 爾對於生活的解讀，「儀式是慎重其事的態度，以彰顯你 的品味跟身份」，以「壺」去表述另一種美，行雲，雲在流動，端莊工整的態度點滴之中，歷史紀錄一期一會的「小題大作」於時代脈絡下，或許是否有另一種喝茶的形式值得賞玩。
八方新氣藝術擺設《水平》，歲月為四季起伏的甜美風情，激蕩漣漪陣陣的高潮 只有平淡之心境能吸收這場大自然幻化無盡的養份。
八方新氣藝術收藏站相系列，《英姿》謹守一生的信仰而凜然展示深刻的凝視，深信普世的價值而決然站出寧靜的堅持。
傳承匠人技
打下了「中華瓷器文化復興者」之名，面對這個快速運轉的時代，王俠軍專注於寫書，希望透過筆下的流淌將民族工藝精神推廣給年輕人，讓下一輩學習鑑賞與傳承這份古老的中華瓷器美學。他強調透過閱讀，從不同視角去理解每個人的生命歷程，尋找微妙情感碰撞與連結，解讀現象並追求創新。而談起八方新氣的命名，「八」是空間生活的場域，所謂的東西南北上下左右;「方」強調的是一種傳統工藝的倫理，在細節中一絲不苟繁雜精準，「新」致力於讓品牌能跟隨著時代的腳步，去創新與突破更多的可能 ;「氣」則是詮釋魏晉南北朝中的「氣韻生動」，展現瓷器中霸氣、靈氣、骨氣、俠氣的不同風貌，透過物件去觀賞，於作品對望，完美與收藏家的互動。八方新氣走過 17 年，延伸存續的工藝，王俠軍以「不僅最好，更要唯一」為期許，攜手女兒王筱杰再造瓷器百年風華。
The Charm of Guan Ware
Looking back at the long history of porcelain, Mr. Wang was able to use his years of hard work to overcome the problems of clay breaking under the high temperature and distorting due to vitrification. Breaking the constraints of the simple cylindrical shape, he began to produce porcelain of various shapes and utilized elements of art to add a touch of creativity, elegance, and interactive fun without relying on painting and decorations. Speaking of the New Chi’s white porcelain, its whiteness is not the artificial white glaze that was painted after the ceramics were created. Instead, it is the natural white color of clay that is produced after high- temperature heating. White becomes a representation of the height of craftsmanship. With the simple and minimalist structure and the neat and bright layers of shadows, it interprets the vigor and strength of modernity. Speaking of last year’s porcelain exhibition in Hsinchu, it showed Mr. Wang’s genuine dedication to choosing white porcelain. Modest but generous, the pottery also symbolizes the manners and cultivation of a gentleman. Excitingly, Mr. Wang also revealed that he will be planning an exhibition in June to reminisce the brand’s seventeen years of celebrating the new era of contemporary porcelain.
Reshaping the Beauty of Porcelain
Stepping into the Taipei gallery of New Chi, we start to look for ideas in life through the displayed objects. While gazing at the art works, the collectors project their imaginations and inner dialogue onto the pieces, thereby adding a soulful sense of belonging. Shifting focus to the tea set “Flowing Clouds” sitting on the cypress table, it expresses Mr. Wang’s feelings towards life in Taipei. Shaped like a basin, the teaware allows the liquid to flow like the linkage between the mountains and Tamsui River. The craftsmanship and balance together reflect an aesthetic that is sleek and beautiful. Starting from the teapot, the lights and shadows reflected become disturbances of the Taipei fragments. After three rounds of brewing, Mr. Wang remembered French consumer sociologist O’Hare’s interpretation of life. “Rituals are a way of showing your careful attitude that highlights your taste and identity.” With the teapot expressing a distinct kind of beauty and the clouds flowing, we began to wonder if there is another mode worth exploring for us to enjoy the brewed tea.
An Inheritance of Craft
In this fast-moving era, after receiving the praise of being “the figure of Chinese porcelain renaissance,” Mr. Wang wanted to shift his focus to writing books. In the hopes of passing on the spirit of national craftsmanship to the younger generation, he wishes that they can learn to appreciate, understand, and eventually, inherit the ancient beauty of Chinese porcelain. Mr. Wang emphasizes that through reading, we get to interpret everyone’s life journey through different perspectives, look for subtle emotional collisions and connections, and analyze the current situation to encourage improvement. Meanwhile, speaking of the naming of New Chi’s Chinese title, “Bā,” meaning eight, represents the spatial life: east, west, north, south, up, down, right, and left. “Fāng,” meaning square in English, emphasizes the ethics of traditional craftsmanship that is precise, complex, meticulous. Meaning new, ‘Xīn” is the brand’s devotion to keep up with the trends in order to innovate and exceed possibilities. And lastly, “Qì,” meaning air, is the interpretation of the charming dynasties that fully expresses how the porcelain is domineering, spiritual, confident, and chivalrous. Through the appreciation of the objects, the collector connects with the piece through the soul. Marching into the seventeenth year for New Chi, Mr. Wang continues to live by the motto, “Be the best, and the one and only,” and joins forces with his daughter to recreate the charming beauty of the ancient porcelains.