When the New Year's bell resounds at the end of the year, fireworks burst forth into the sky and brilliantly illuminate the night. The whole year's triviality and fatigue seem to go away with the fireworks. In the brand new beginning of the Year of the Snake, we set out on a new journey with visions of the future. Pottery, like a warm and trusted old friend, quietly weaves its way into the fabric of our daily lives. As the most exquisite carrier of slow life, pottery will lead us to understand the philosophy of life hidden deep inside. 

When we touch the delicate clay with our fingertips in the Changchun International Ceramics Gallery, the cool texture instantly passes through our palms as if we are holding the pulse of the earth. A piece of rustic clay can be gradually shaped on the rotating wheel. It is a dialog between people and the clay. Every press, lift, and pull is a dialogue between the heart and the object. At that time, the hustle and bustle of the outside world is cut off from the door. Time is no longer a hurried traveler who fights for every second. It becomes a soft and gentle companion for every moment of creation. In this slow rhythm, we realize that just like pottery creation, life shouldn't be full of anxiety and restlessness. We can build our own solid foundation only if we calm down.

The trimming process in pottery is truly a form of spiritual refinement.The body that originally appears to be well-formed reveals many flaws upon closer inspection. There might be a bulge here or a slight depression there.Therefore, we need to pick up the tools and polish them patiently. This is like looking back on the paths we've traveled. The regrets left in haste and the mistakes made in moments of impulsiveness all need to be calmly corrected in the subsequent stages of our growth. Life is never perfect as it unfolds before us. It hands us rough stones, and it is up to us to carve them with years of dedication and sweat, so that our lives may bloom with warmth.We need to accept imperfection and then create perfection. It is the true meaning of life given by pottery. 

The glaze decoration process breathes life and soul into the pottery, adorning its body with vibrant colors. Colors are flowing as if life is being lit up by dreams and love. The colors we choose and the patterns we design are a reflection of our innermost desires. We bravely chase our dreams, just as we boldly use colors to express ourselves. We care for the little happiness in life as delicately as we outline the clay with precision and care. Ceramic works are ultimately fired at high temperatures in the kiln. Similarly, life will inevitably encounter the scorching fires of adversity. But it is also the fire that allows the clay to complete a magnificent transformation and become a masterpiece. The ceramic works are reborn through trials and tribulations. This is the story of resilience told by ceramics. It reveals that no matter how fierce the storm rages, we will be able to hold fast to hope, be reborn in the fire, and achieve greatness in the new year.

The journey of the new year has already begun. With pottery by our side, a slow life is no longer an unattainable luxury. It allows us to take a break from our busyness, listen to the whispers of the clay and feel the rhythms of life within a small space. Each piece of pottery is a crystallization of life's philosophical thoughts, carrying patience, perseverance, and an unwavering pursuit of beauty. In these long years, let us sail along the stream of slow life with pottery as our boat. Let's gather the most genuine wisdom of life, steer towards the shore of inner peace and abundance, write our own chapters of a poetic life, and live up to every beautiful moment of this New Year of the Snake.