Li Jun, known by his pseudonym Dan Jun, is a Chinese artist specialising in wood-fired pottery and Chinese traditional painting. He was born and raised in Heilongjiang, China, a region rich in black soil, he had a deep affection for this land since childhood, which influenced his cultural identity and artistic inspiration.
In 1981, Li Jun studied traditional Chinese painting at the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts and started working in pottery in 1996. In 2001, he was invited to Heilongjiang University, where he served as the dean of the College of Arts, focusing on teaching and management. In 2013, he established the Dan Jun Wood-firing Pottery Studio. Over the years, Li Jun has been dedicated to promoting cultural exchange and has actively participated in numerous international exhibitions, including in Russia, Japan, and Korea, and receiving multiple awards in professional competitions. In 2021, he debuted his first solo wood-fired pottery exhibition in Harbin, China, followed by his second solo exhibition at the Inner Mongolia Museum in 2022. That same year, he was appointed as a guest tutor for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs at Bangkok Thonburi University.
Li Jun integrates traditional Chinese painting techniques, elements drawn from the cultures of northern Chinese ethnic minorities, and his profound connection to the black soil as inspirations for his wood-fired pottery creations. Through the experimental and natural processes inherent in wood-fired pottery, he explores the ancient Chinese concept of "Heaven and Man Are United as One," delving into how universal principles govern existence, influencing human nature, morality, and societal structures while seeking the golden ratio between humans and nature. Li Jun's works embody a harmonious balance between humans and nature, the kiln and the wares, and the woods and the fire, reflecting profound insights into traditional Chinese philosophy.
He is continually seeking to uncover new dimensions of artistic expression in pottery. Li Jun has innovated iron oxide decoration techniques on pottery, enhancing traditional pottery while exploring creative possibilities.
“DanJun Ceramic Art Exhibition” 2021
