The Inaugural Biennale

In 2006 the inaugural International Teapot Art Biennale opened in China, presenting the teapot as a subject of serious artistic enquiry. Placeholder copy stands in for the curatorial essay of the first edition.

Works in clay, porcelain, and mixed media examined the vessel's archetypal elements — spout, handle, lid, and body — through the eyes of artists from many countries. Placeholder copy stands in for the exhibition report.

The edition established the biennale's founding themes of form, material, and dialogue, which continue to guide the programme today.