"Ocean View Drift" Chasing the Dream of the Millennium Porcelain Capital (Deep Observation)
Li Man (front) and classmates burn the kiln together. Photo courtesy of the interviewee
Photo courtesy of Ni Diming and his pottery works interviewees
More than 1,000 years ago, ships loaded with exquisite porcelain set off from Jingdezhen and went to the world via the Maritime Silk Road; more than 1,000 years later, ceramic artists from all over the world came to Jingdezhen to reproduce the grand scene of "craftsmen come from all directions, and utensils go all over the world".
These "ocean drifters" come from different countries and have different skin tones. They work, study and live in Jingdezhen out of their yearning for Chinese ceramic culture.
They absorbed the nutrients of the millennium porcelain capital, and also promoted the innovative development of ceramic art and the wide spread of ceramic culture through their own hands.
Bringing together potters from all over the world
In a pottery studio in Fuliang County, Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi Province, there are a dazzling array of teapots, ornaments, and decorations, and pottery works of various sizes fill the small room.
They are unique in shape, bright in color and full of rich marine flavor, all from the hands of "post-90s" boy Allan Denis Naymark.
The guy is a "Yangjing Piao" from New York, USA, whose Chinese name is "Mud Ming".
"I saw a lot of ancient Chinese ceramics in the museum when I was a child, and I liked it very much." Ni Diming said in fluent Chinese.
His father was an archaeologist and taught at the university.
Mu Diming has been fascinated by his ears and eyes since he was a child, and has developed a strong interest in ancient Chinese ceramics. He began to learn pottery at the age of 8.
He received 4 bachelor's degrees in the United States, including Chinese Culture and Ceramic Sculpture.
When Ni Diming first came to Jingdezhen in 2013, he was deeply attracted by the city, and he began to settle here in the summer of 2015.
After graduating from university, Ni Diming went to Jingdezhen Ceramics University to study for a master's degree and graduated in 2019.
"Ceramic art workers from all over the world gather here." Ni Ming said that Jingdezhen has a long history of porcelain making, and it has better preserved the ancient Chinese porcelain making skills. You can find the feeling of ancient Chinese porcelain here.
In his view, Jingdezhen has a very complete ceramic industry chain, and can easily buy various ceramic raw materials to realize their own creativity and ideas.
There are currently more than 5,000 people like Ni Diming, including professors from the Royal College of Art, PhDs from Harvard University, and "masters" in the international ceramic art circle.
According to the relevant person in charge of the Organization Department of the Zhushan District Committee of Jingdezhen, "Yangjing drift" appeared sporadically in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, and it has become quite large after the reform and opening up. Especially in the 21st century, more foreigners come to Jingdezhen.
"Today, the Tao Xichuan International Studio, Sanbao International Ceramic Art Village, Lotte Pottery Club, Jingdezhen Ceramic University International College, etc. in Jingdezhen have become the main gathering places for 'Yangjing Piao', where they enjoy the fun of creation."
Gao Xiang, secretary of the Zhushan District Committee of Jingdezhen, said.
"Jingdezhen's profound cultural heritage and exquisite porcelain-making craftsmanship are naturally attractive to those who love ceramic art. While feeling the culture of the thousand-year-old porcelain capital, 'Yangjing Piao' can also complete almost everything related to ceramic art here. The relevant person in charge of Jingdezhen Ceramics Talent Service Center told reporters that after acquiring pottery skills and deeper insights, some "Yangjing Piao" went to spread ceramic culture around the world; Fully immerse yourself in local art creation.
Understanding China through Porcelain
"I am very happy here, really happy." Li Man from Italy told reporters from the bottom of his heart.
At the age of 27, she is a special "ocean drifter" and is currently a graduate student at Jingdezhen Ceramic University.
Liman's research direction is art.
For her, the so-called happiness means that in Jingdezhen, you can observe ceramic works of different styles from different historical periods.
"In Italian museums, ceramic products can't be touched; but at Jingdezhen Ceramic University, we can 'get hands on' while doing research." Li Man said excitedly.
In high school, Li Man first came into contact with Chinese philosophy in a history class, and has been interested in China ever since.
At the age of 18, Li Man traveled to Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and other cities in China, and gained a more intuitive understanding of China.
Li Man's undergraduate major is Chinese culture.
In her own words, it is "destined" with China.
"In the West, almost all blue-and-white porcelain comes from Jingdezhen, and Clark porcelain is also produced in Jingdezhen." Li Man told reporters that during his three-year postgraduate study, Li Man went to various studios whenever he was free, and learned ceramic production from potters from all over the world. , to understand various artistic concepts, and later began to "play with mud".
"Because I found that to study ceramics, practice is a very important part. If you don't experience it yourself, you can't understand some small details from pure theory." Liman said.
In Li Man's view, ceramic products are not simply daily necessities, but also represent the artist's concept of life, contain a nation's thinking on the relationship between man and nature, and reflect the aesthetic and technological development of an era.
"For a foreigner, I can understand the cultural characteristics of various periods in China through Chinese ceramics." Li Man herself likes Song Dynasty porcelain very much, she believes that Song porcelain represents the elegance and order in traditional Chinese culture.
It is reported that relying on the unique ceramic university platform in China, Jingdezhen has established friendly and cooperative relations with more than 30 universities and the International Ceramic Artists Association in the United States, Britain, France, Japan, South Korea and other countries and regions.
Every year, about 100 international students come to Jingdezhen Ceramics University, where they learn the knowledge of pottery and porcelain-making skills, and then learn about Chinese culture and China.
After graduation, these international students either continue to study in the school, or stay in Jingdezhen to start a business, and some return to their own countries to teach pottery and cultural dissemination.
Cultural and artistic integration is more frequent
Ni Diming likes to look for inspiration from the ocean and forests, and also likes to recreate with some discarded objects. He also integrates his understanding of ancient China, ancient Egypt and ancient Greek porcelain into his creation.
"The materials we use may be similar, but everyone's ideas are completely different. Artistic ideas from all over the world collide here," said Mu Ming.
"'Yangjing Piao' were attracted by Jingdezhen's ceramic culture, and at the same time brought new artistic techniques, new production techniques and new products to Jingdezhen's artistic creation." The relevant person in charge of Jingdezhen Ceramics Talent Service Center said, interactive innovation As a result, new varieties, new materials, new techniques, and new styles of Jingdezhen porcelain art emerged one after another, forming a dialogue between traditional Chinese painting, oil painting and porcelain painting, a dialogue between local and "foreign scenery", and a dialogue between traditional techniques and modern craftsmanship.
In the long history of thousands of years, openness and tolerance have been forged into the distinctive urban characteristics of Jingdezhen.
Jingdezhen people and potters from all over the world communicate with each other, seek common ground while reserving differences, and integrate into the long-standing Jingdezhen ceramic culture.
Today, such a fusion of culture and art has become more frequent, making Jingdezhen's future full of more possibilities and infinite reverie.
At present, Ni Diming is in the process of changing to a larger studio, which will be operational in about half a year.
In the future, he wants to create more large-scale ceramics.
"I will continue to stay in Jingdezhen." Ni Diming said with great certainty.
And Li Man, who is about to graduate this year, set the title of his graduation thesis as "Chinese and Western Cultural Exchange - Talking about the Development of Chinese Ceramics from the Theory of Art Philosophy".
"My research has always been related to Chinese culture and Chinese ceramics. After graduation, I want to continue to stay in China." Li Man said.
She hopes to have the opportunity to give lectures in Italy in the future to spread Chinese ceramic culture to more places.
Lai Rui