The Sound of Taiwanese Ceramics -Memorial Exhibition of Master Potter Lin Tien-fu 

林添福在故鄉台中市外埔區，俗稱「大甲東」庄內，此地的窯廠有兩家，俗稱「內窯」和「外窯」，因分別位於村莊內、村莊外而得名，所出陶器，都會打上「大甲東」、「大甲東出品」等印記，目前統計大甲東陶器的印記有三十多種，有幾款知名的印記，例如「1955 出品」、「全台好」都是林添福刻製。父親林啟明所購入大甲東「外窯」並改名為「林振新陶瓷廠」。林添福正式與「陶」結了緣，1940 年到1960年，是大甲東陶的黃金時代，有「台灣景德鎮」之稱，盛況可見一斑。

林添福十二歲開始在窯廠出入，小學畢業當天，二叔要他拉個坯試試看，沒想到林添福天生就是吃這行飯的，大人都還不一定使得動的轆轤，他的腳卻能踢得偌大轆轤運轉自如，一上手就可以拉出器皿。跟著「福州師」從最基本的雜工學起，從整理木柴、劈柴、採土、練土，到修窯、蓋窯、燒窯，一點一滴的成就了他全方位的功力。在小小年紀，即擔負起生產的重要角色，成為台灣本地的第一代陶藝師，得到「添福司」這個業界最高禮敬的尊號。

Lin Tien-fu grew up in Waipu District, Taichung City, known as "Dajia East" village. There were two kilns in this area known as "Inner Kiln" and "Outer Kiln," named based on their location within or outside the village. The pottery produced here was stamped with marks like "Dajia East" or "Made in Dajia East." There are over thirty different stamps associated with Dajia East pottery, some notable ones engraved by Lin Tianfu himself, such as "Produced in 1955" and "Best in Taiwan." Lin Tien-fu's father, Lin Qiming, purchased the "Outer Kiln" of Dajia East and renamed it "Lin Zhenxin Ceramic Factory."

Lin Tien-fu officially began his journey with pottery at the age of twelve, entering the kiln factory. On the day of his elementary school graduation, his uncle asked him to try pulling clay on the wheel. It turned out that Lin Tien-fu had a natural talent for this craft. While adults struggled with the pottery wheel, his feet effortlessly managed the large wheel, creating vessels with ease. He learned the basics from the "Fuzhou Master," starting from menial tasks like sorting wood, chopping firewood, collecting clay, kneading clay, to kiln maintenance, construction, and firing. Gradually, he became a vital part of production at a young age, becoming the first generation of local Taiwanese potters and earning the respected title of "Master Tien-fu" in the industry.