High-temperature color glazes are a vital expression in Jingdezhen ceramics, achieved by combining various metal oxides with the base components of glaze. After firing at temperatures above 1300°C, these glazes result in a multicolored, crystal-clear, and vibrant appearance. Due to variations in kiln temperature and atmosphere, they can produce unpredictable artistic effects, known as glaze color transformation in the kiln. 

Shallow relief sculpture techniques utilize clay or minerals that can be layered to a certain thickness to carve out diverse forms such as landscapes, trees, flowers, birds, and figures onto the ceramic body. This article focuses on the art of combining the infinitely variable high-temperature color glazes with the relatively stable relief sculpture techniques to express the mutable and immutable aspects of the universe and to convey the artist's emotional reflections on nature and life.

I. The Role of High-Temperature Color Glazes in Modern Ceramics

Modern ceramics, as opposed to antique imitation and decorative ceramics, are artistic ceramic works imbued with a strong sense of the times, fresh perspectives, and innovative techniques. The variety of high-temperature colored glazes is vast, including: 

1. Langhong Series: This glaze is as vibrant as ox blood, hence it is called "Ox Blood Red."

2. Ji Lan Series: This is a deep blue glaze, named for its profound color.

3. Ji Hong Series: This is a deep red glaze, similarly named after its color.

4. Wujin Series: This glaze has a luster akin to black steel, known as Black Gold Glaze.

5. Green Glaze Series: This glaze is as verdant as jade, referred to as Jade Green Glaze.

6. Ivory Yellow Series: This glaze is as warm and smooth as ivory, called Ivory Yellow Glaze.

In addition, there are resulting colors of glaze color transformation in the kiln, known for its mysterious and unpredictable nature. The combination of various color glazes can yield unpredictable effects, sometimes gorgeous and other times imperfect, shining brightly like gemstones or appearing rough like mountain stones. Glaze that is too thin may lack luster, while glaze that is too thick may run and ruin the artwork. Mastery in glaze painting is achieved when the glaze appears to be on the brink of movement yet remains static, capturing motion in stillness.

High-temperature color glazes can serve as the main or background color of a piece; for instance, high-temperature blue can be used as a background to convey the tranquil atmosphere of nights or snowscapes, while the ivory yellow base can evoke a sense of warmth and softness. High-temperature color glazes can be applied on the themes of the artwork, employing yellow floral glazes to illustrate the thick fur of camels or monkeys, blue glazes to capture the solidity of mountain rocks, and red and blue high-temperature glazes to depict the clothing of characters. The luster and substantial feel of high-temperature color glazes are far superior to those of pigments. When these high-temperature color glazes are applied appropriately, they can yield unexpected effects.

II. Artistic Features of Shallow Relief Sculpture

The shallow relief sculpture discussed in this article specifically refers to the technique of using clay or minerals with high quartz and aluminum oxide content, mixed with an appropriate amount of water, to create themes or backgrounds on the body. This technique can be used to depict figures as well as landscapes, rocks, trees, and birds. Since the materials used in relief sculpture are mostly hard, they have stable performance during firing. To achieve a blended or gradient effect for themes such as misty forests or dusk in the desert, more alkaline metals should be added to soften the minerals, allowing them to fuse more easily with the background glaze after firing. Generally, due to its certainty, shallow relief sculpture can portray delicate trees, rocks, buildings, bridges, and even figures and birds.The clay, as the most crucial material in shallow relief sculpture, comes in various forms, from coarse sagger clay and waste soil to refined, high-quality clay. It enables the creation of a stark contrast between coarse pottery and fine, bright high-temperature color glazes, as well as the carving of exquisite objects from refined clay that can blend seamlessly into a flowing high-temperature color glaze background, resulting in a vivid dynamic and static relationship contrast.

III. The Synergistic Application of Shallow Relief Sculpture and High-Temperature Color Glazes

The essence of using shallow relief sculpture within high-temperature color glazes is to harmonize the relationship between "clay, fire, and glaze." Clay serves a distinct role in shallow relief sculpture compared to the body-making process. The clay used for the body is the framework of the entire piece, while the clay for shallow relief sculpture is a special medium for painting and expression. The dryness or moisture, and the depth of color of the clay used in the sculpture play a crucial role in determining the theme's tone. Coarse sagger clay is used to depict animals like oxen or tigers, delivering a boldly powerful and simply abstract visual experience. Extremely delicate white porcelain is used to portray delicate, realistic, and elegant themes. These include exquisite pavilions, figures, flowers, and birds. Regardless of their roughness or delicacy, these shallow relief sculptures are the focal points of the entire work, contrasting in color and brightness with the color glaze background, and offering specificity and certainty against the variable background. This contrast captures the fixed part amidst change and the vivid amidst liveliness. To combine shallow relief sculpture with the color glaze background, the biggest challenge is to achieve a natural transition and vibrancy. The two contrasting materials for shallow relief and for background can be a double-edged sword and there will be a disjointed and rigid appearance if not used well. Therefore, identifying their differences and commonalities enables resonance amidst contrast and connection amidst variation, thus laying a solid material foundation for creating a work that is both atmospheric and thematic. Whether it is the clay in the shallow relief sculpture or the glaze in the background, achieving the desired effect depends significantly or sometimes decisively on the temperature and atmosphere of the fire. The same clay and glaze can appear bright and soft at high temperatures or dull and hard at low temperatures. Changes in the oxidation-reduction atmosphere further complicate the myriad transformations of clay and glaze, making them elusive. It is precisely the contraction, deformation, and solidification of clay and glaze in the fire, along with different atmospheres and external uncertain factors, that lead to expected effects or unexpected splendor. The artistic charm of fire lies in the uncertainty of the firing process. The moment the kiln is opened, we are amazed by the exquisite and magical masterpieces that showcase the extraordinary craftsmanship or pained by the speckled, cracked, and shattered glazes. This unpredictability increases the difficulty in making works that combine high-temperature color glazes and shallow relief sculpture, and their preciousness. The beauty of nature and the heartache of failure profoundly illustrate the essence of ceramics, "the art of regret."

"Clay, glaze, and fire" are the three key elements in the works combining relief sculpture and color glaze. Mastering the interrelationship among them allows ceramists to inspire the resonance of ceramics with the inherent nature of humans, thereby generating a sense of intimacy and a pleasant aesthetic experience. The dynamic shifts in color glaze, along with the delicacy and certainty of shallow relief sculpture, in a way, inspire modern people to navigate their own identities in a world that is constantly evolving. These two vastly different artistic methods, originally employed as porcelain decoration techniques, are used in ceramic art or in the same piece of ceramic painting, reflecting a strong sense of the times and a metaphor of humanistic care. The natural texture of the color glaze and the exquisite expression enabled by shallow relief sculpture, much like the organic combination of string instruments and drumbeats in a musical composition, move both the creator and the observer.