An artist carves a design into porcelain clay before firing in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, in 2015. Photo: IC
For centuries, the most coveted porcelain from China came out of Jingdezhen's workshops, fashioned from clay made smooth by trained hands, fired in kilns and then transported across the globe.
The works, notably the blue-and-white vases and jade-green celadon bowls, graced the courts of the British, Persians and French. This was one of China's first globalized commodities and greatest export to the world.
"Can-do attitude"
The industrial revolution in the West ended China's supremacy, as cheaper porcelain born out of mass production took over the market. The fall of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and wars in the early 20th century broke the artisan culture and lowered its status in global trade.
The craftsmanship, however, never left Jingdezhen, a river town in East China's Jiangxi Province, and the tradition is being revived at the roots. Studios and workshops have popped up around town and in the surrounding valleys. Some of the new artisans hope to profit from their skills since the country's middle-class boom brings a greater demand for porcelain.
Ryan Labar, an US ceramic artist, said coming to Jingdezhen is like "a son returning home."
The 43-year-old set up a studio three years ago in Taoxichuan, a renovated porcelain factory that unifies industrial heritage, ceramic and arts and crafts galleries and studios as well as restaurants, cafeterias and hotels.
Partnering with a young Chinese businessman, Labar established Lab Artz, a 260-square-meter workshop where he plans to house more artists and offer classes on ceramics.
"There is a can-do attitude in China that pushes new ideas into reality," said Labar, who is fond of using traditional methods to make contemporary art.
Labar said his works, unlike traditional Chinese works that have concrete shapes, are very abstract. Though he has not sold a piece in Jingdezhen, his works are a hit in museums, hotels and galleries in Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, with the highest piece priced at 100,000 yuan ($14,515).
There is a term for young artists like Labar: jingpiao, or floating population in Jingdezhen.
According to Zhong Zhisheng, the city's Party secretary, 30,000 jingpiao are currently living in Jingdezhen, including 5,000 foreigners.
The city now boasts of 6,773 ceramic enterprises and workshops. Some 150,000 people work in porcelain-related industries, nearly a quarter of the urban population.
"Jingdezhen is still the global ceramic innovation and exchange center, " said Zhong.
"The dream of revival is always in the hearts of the Jingdezhen people."
Exploration for the future
Some 1,200 students, urban elites, foreign tourists and even entertainment celebrities, swarmed to Jinkeng this year, a small village eight kilometers to the east of Jingdezhen. The tranquil village, surrounded by mountains, boasts elements that intrigue people's curiosity such as fields and gardens, an ancient village, classes, archaeology and porcelain.
Huang Wei, a doctoral student of art history from Tsinghua University and a former lecturer at the Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute, discovered 15 porcelain kilns sites in 2014 in Jinkeng, dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). She then set up an eco-agriculture cooperative and a Dongjiao (east suburb) School, spreading the knowledge of heritage protection and also allowing local farmers to benefit from the preservation of culture.
"Development on the basis of culture is the future direction for Jingdezhen, while education is the key," said Huang, who provides simulated archaeology excavation and porcelain repair classes, conducts farming and porcelain-making experiential activities and sells organic farm produce.
"What we are doing here is trying to integrate the porcelain production, study, research and tourism," said Huang, adding that Jinkeng is an epitome of Jingdezhen's future development.
Huang's exploration on the integration of heritage protection and community development was highly lauded by European scholars at a seminar on heritage protection at the University of Copenhagen in December 2018.
Liu Zili, who is also a key planner of Jingdezhen's porcelain industry development, pins high hopes on the commercialization of Jingdezhen's unique culture.
"The porcelain-making tradition and culture have never been interrupted in the past millennium. This is what porcelain lovers around the world pay tribute to," Liu explained.
"Jingdezhen should be an art center for the world," said Liu.
"We don't expect Taoxichuan to be a crowded scenic spot but a paradise for craftsmen, designers and artists."
Taoxichuan has already seen the potential of cashing in on culture. Its sales revenue reached 101 million yuan in 2018, up 36 percent year on year.
"We have only renovated one factory, and there are nine more to come," said Liu.
Besides keeping the tradition, Liu said the introduction of modern technology is inevitable.
The Yishan Industrial Park, a subsidiary of the Jingdezhen Ceramic Culture Tourism Group, imported seven automated production lines from Germany, which can offer mass production services for 300 hand-made porcelain workshops, which in turn can offer innovative designs.
"Our future products will be tailored and smartly produced with 3D printing and high-pressure grouting technologies, which can meet the demands of the young generation," said Liu.
The bold exploration for future growth in Jingdezhen has impressed Takeshi Yasuda, a renowned Japanese potter who has lived in the city for 14 years.
"The future of Jingdezhen lies not on export but on meeting the rising demand of the Chinese," said the 75-year-old potter.
"Jingdezhen has walked its own path in the post-industrial society."
