Qi Ji (祁吉), born in Nanjing in 1990, is a contemporary Chinese ceramicist who earned his Master’s degree from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan in 2017. An assistant professor at the Nanjing University of the Arts, he works with students and local communities to develop biodegradable ceramic materials in support of sustainable development. His work addresses the relationship between memory, ecology, and urbanization, through series such as CopyCity, which reproduces concealed urban landscapes using precision technologies. Qi merges ancient writing, traditional techniques, and contemporary reflection to preserve symbolic references at risk of being forgotten. Works such as the faithful reproduction of cement structures in porcelain combine visual excavation with a poetic use of material. He has exhibited in China, Italy, and beyond, weaving subtle humor and reflections on the relationship between humans and nature into his research. Currently, he lives between Lhasa and Nanjing, continuing to experiment with cera mic and environmental processes, maintaining a balance between craftsmanship and poetic innovation.
