Over the years, the degree of intimacy that has developed between the artist and his material has led him to see its shortcomings as advantages. Many of his works feature fractured, even broken surfaces.

Lv said, "Traditional Chinese porcelain making emphasizes a set standard. Anything that's 'physically imperfect' is considered flawed, or even a failure. But as you know, the entire process of porcelain-making is prone to such so-called 'errors'. This quality, if you will, has prompted me to question the original standard, to rethink and broaden its aesthetic."

According to the artist's brother, Lv Pintian, who's also a noted curator and art critic, this inclusive tendency reflects his character.

Lv said, "My brother is an extrovert, passionate and decisive. This character is reflected in his creations. Most of his works are rather big in size. His treatment of the surfaces is very spontaneous. There is a raw energy about them. And his handling of the images is truer to the spirit than to the actual form."

This is Lv's workshop-classroom at Beijing's Central Academy of Fine Arts. He's been teaching here since he moved to the capital in 1994. Scattered everywhere are the creations of his students, which are very often just as novel as their mentor's. Lv says he loves the job, which allows him to refill himself with new ideas.

But nothing compares with the moment when he puts the half-completed work inside the kiln, and the flames begin their work.

Lv said, "You never know what's going to happen inside the kiln. And it's always with an intense expectation that we artists wait for the final result to come out."

The anticipation, mingled with anxiety, is all-consuming. But there's a promise lying in the infinite possibilities. A promise in the blazing fire, as beautiful as the rising sun.