Discovering is creating —the creative philosophy embraced by Liu Yunlong, founder of designer studio Dahao. In collaboration with Liu, Space of Time Gallery presents the special exhibition Held in Time, showcasing a survey of antique ceramics collected by the designer over the years—a testament to his multiple roles as both a Chinese folk art researcher and collector. Each piece in this exhibition tells an ancient story, they also connecting to the present, reflecting the collector’s own journey of discovery and creation.

Liu describes how his focus on studying ancient objects led him to develop his own distinctive design approach. For him, forming personal perspectives and aesthetics—and through them, collecting antique folk art—is itself an act of creation. Whether selecting artefacts or drawing design inspiration, his process is deepened by cross-disciplinary exploration of archaeology, religion, architecture, and folk traditions. These influences gradually sharpen his subconscious and intuition, giving rise to his own design practice. Tradition is more than heritage, it’s a living DNA. Much of the tradition have been forgotten in the folds of history, and true innovation may begin with looking back.

As a product designer, Liu started his design practice by searching materials and techniques from traditional industries, to create meaningful design that resonates in contemporary living. Later, his fascination with China’s ancient folk kilns took him across Shanxi and Fujian regions, where he studied the well known regional ceramics, uncovering their cultural narratives, aesthetics, and most importantly, the emotional ties between objects and people. The power of these artefacts pushed Liu to think beyond technical and formal design constraints, helping him build his own creative methodology and craft-based practice.

This exhibition features a series of ancient ceramics that have inspired Liu’s recent work—many of them rare or uniquely expressive folk art pieces. On the relationship between collecting and creating. Studying these objects teaches me about the wisdom of past craftsmen and hones my discernment. These lessons continually feed back into my own designs, reflected by Liu. Perhaps, then, collecting antique isn’t just about preserving a moment in history, for a creative, it can be the torch of light to point towards a clear journey of innovation.