Caroline Cheng is founder of the award-winning Yi Design. She is an artist and curator, whose promotion of Chinese ceramic arts over decades has earned recognition in China and throughout the world. She has held solo exhibitions in Sotheby’s Hong Kong (2013) and New York (2015). Her work has been collected by the British Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, and the Boston Museum of Fine Art. Cheng has received the “Outstanding Achievement Award” from the American National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) in 2014 and the Japan Good Design Award for Community Development in 2020. Caroline Cheng is also the owner of the world-renowned Pottery Workshop in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Jingdezhen, certified B Corp.

Material | recycled clay, industrial waste

Size | 47*47*32cm

Recently I have been watching survival videos and it has sparked this new direction: the primal need for shelter. This exhibition features a prototype survival cave, built with Yi Design's recycled clay and industrial waste – a deliberate choice reflecting my commitment to sustainable practice.

Inspired by ceramic artist Ray Meeker, who lived in his self-built, kiln-fired house, I'm exploring the fusion of shelter, process, and environment. This piece will be fired with reclaimed wood and natural materials from Jingdezhen, China, where the recycled materials also originate. This mindful sourcing minimizes commercial use, shaping a more responsible future for making.

As an established ceramic artist and entrepreneur, my work bridges tradition and innovation. Presented at Design Shanghai 2025 in the Rong Library space, this piece examines Nostalgic Shelter, the Ancient Future of materials, our Harmonic Connection with nature, and the power of Hand Craft. It’s a focused exploration of essential needs, resourceful reuse, and the enduring beauty of reimagined waste.