THE PERFORMANCE OF PORCELAIN: A TRIANGULATED STUDY OF EMBODIED MASTERY AND SPATIAL DESIGN IN JINGDEZHEN CERAMIC PAINTING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i1.2026.7509Keywords:
Somatic Paradox, Vernacular Mediation, Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Wmsds, Sensory ShelterAbstract [English]
The global acknowledgment of Jingdezhen's ceramic heritage often emphasizes the visual "artifact," neglecting the performative intimacy of the artisan's "body-tool" relationship. This study utilizes qualitative triangulation by combining historical literature, ethnographic interviews, and systematic observation to analyze the socio-technical and aesthetic dynamics of the traditional ceramic painting workstation. By merging legacy studies with design sociology, the research reveals a "somatic paradox": the traditional workstation operates as a constraining apparatus that requires "somatic locking"—a purposeful immobilization of the artist's joints to achieve micro-level precision. Grounded theory study of ethnographic data uncovers a "culture of pain," wherein artisans internalize chronic musculoskeletal strain as a "natural sacrifice" intrinsic to artistic accomplishment. The artists perceive these high-risk postures as a "sensory shelter," providing the deep psychological immersion essential for their craft. The research delineates the manner in which the historical workstation has "disciplined" the artisan's physique, charting a diachronic progression from the "force-driven" carving of the Song Dynasty to the "precision-control" of the Qing Dynasty. The study concludes with a Research-through-Design (RtD) intervention, showcasing a modular workbench prototype. This approach transitions the artisan from "body compensation" to "tool support," aligning physical health with the maintenance of cultural distinctiveness. This research reinterprets the artisan's stance as an essential element of "living heritage," offering a scientific and aesthetic foundation for sustainable craft growth in anticipation of Jingdezhen's 2026 UNESCO World Legacy designation.
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