Creating the illusion of transparency or lightness in large porcelain sculptures is a delicate art that combines technical skill and creative vision. Artists achieve this effect through several key methods.

First, they carefully select and blend porcelain clays to produce a refined, semi-translucent material. Thin, even walls are essential, requiring precise hand-building or slip-casting techniques to maintain structural integrity while allowing light to penetrate.

Surface treatments play a crucial role. Artists may apply translucent glazes in graduated layers or use matte finishes to diffuse light. Some incorporate intentional imperfections or texturing to scatter light in ways that enhance the illusion of depth.

Strategic hollowing is another important technique. By creating carefully calculated voids within the sculpture, artists can manipulate how light travels through the piece, producing ethereal glow effects. The placement of these hollow spaces often follows the natural flow of the sculpted form.

Contemporary artists sometimes combine porcelain with other materials like glass or resin to enhance light transmission. Others employ innovative firing techniques that alter the clay's crystalline structure for greater translucency.

Mastering these methods requires years of experience, as the balance between achieving visual lightness and maintaining structural stability is extremely delicate. The most successful works appear to defy gravity, their massive forms seeming to float with an almost magical quality.