Chinese sculptor, painter, photographer, and video artist Lei Xue often explores the innate tension between past tradition and modernity in his diverse body of work. One series that illustrates this interest in the relationship between the old and the new is Drinking Tea , a creative and comical collection of can sculptures. Each sculpture has been crafted by Xue to resemble a discarded, crumpled can. Made out of white porcelain and featuring painted blue patterns and motifs, the pieces are clearly inspired by Ming Dynasty wares, putting a clever, contemporary twist on traditional ceramics. Like his aesthetic approach, Xue’s choice of subject matter—drinking vessels—is also rooted in history. According to Gallery Martina Deterrer , “the human need for drinking manifests itself in the external form of the cans as well as in their design. It is timeless and endures the entire history of mankind.” He compares our consumption of canned drinks to the t...