Liu Jianhua is among many ceramic lovers worldwide who view Song dynasty ceramics as the highest artistic achievement of Chinese porcelain production. The bluish-green glaze (qingci) he uses was very popular during the Song era (960–1279) and conveys a sense of naturalness and serenity. In contrast, the deep red within each of Liu Jianhua’s vessels brings to mind bodily and even violent associations. ‘Many viewers have asked me,’ Liu Jianhua remarks: ‘Does the container hold blood? Whose blood? I have not found the answer yet. What they contain seems to be blood, but it is rather a history, from ancient to present.’

Historically red was one of the supreme colours, used only by nobles and Buddhist leaders. During the 1400s Jingdezhen’s potters perfected the technology of producing red glaze wares by mixing copper directly into the glaze and firing at high temperatures. This technique was subsequently lost for nearly 200 years until its rediscovery in the late 1700s.