China's Porcelain Capital Embraces the World

For centuries, Jingdezhen has been known as China's porcelain capital. There's an old saying: "Craftsmen come from all directions; porcelain goes to all lands." The city with a thousand-year kiln history has always had an open, welcoming soul.

At its peak, more than 60,000 ceramic artists and makers flocked in to chase their dreams. Over 5,000 of them came from overseas. Many bought homes, started families and opened studios. Most importantly, they stayed.

Back in 1998, Li Jianshen had just returned from studying ceramic art abroad. He bought four old farmhouses in Jingdezhen and founded the Sanbao International Ceramic Art Village, a name that reflects its true nature. Then he invited other ceramic artists from the United States and Canada to come work alongside him. To date, Sanbao has welcomed over 100,000 international artists and travelers. As Li puts it, "We must turn our local resources into a global language, one that the world can understand and see."

The clay under Sanbao's hills once created the bluish-white porcelain of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). "The two most important elements of ceramic culture here are craftsmanship and the continuation of a post-agrarian lifestyle," he said. As the city grew more famous, the narrow Sanbao valley filled up with hundreds of ceramic studios run by locals and foreigners alike. Many never left.

Wisam Alsamad, an Iraqi ceramic artist known for blending traditional and contemporary elements, arrived in Jingdezhen in April with his daughter to prepare for a solo exhibition.

Alsamad finds every day a profound source of inspiration. He immerses himself in clay, walks in the beautiful surroundings, and absorbs the spirit of this unique place. "Sanbao is much more than an artist residency," he said. "For centuries, some of the finest porcelains in the world were created here and sent across continents, carrying with them stories, culture and craftsmanship. It offers a rare combination of history, community and artistic freedom. From Mesopotamia to Norway, and now to Jingdezhen, the journey continues."

A few streets away, another artist is telling his story with clay, though on a very different level. Michael May, a 38-year-old ceramic artist from the U.S., has found a home for his boundary-pushing work. Passionate about creating 3D-printed ceramic works, he has built his own customized machines from scratch — designed entirely on his tablet, assembled with modified parts, and coded by his own hand.

Now he incorporates traditional techniques with 3D printing. His approach has not gone unnoticed. Artists across Jingdezhen have begun experimenting with similar fusions of digital and handmade methods, inspired by what May is creating.

"I'm happy that I can inspire people because they can also do something that maybe I haven't thought of, and then we can continue to build on all these new ideas," he said.

He has quietly settled into local life, no longer feeling like an outsider. Jingdezhen's openness and inclusiveness convinced him to stay, keep running his studio, teach courses, and share his methods.

The same spirit shows at Taoxichuan in the heart of Jingdezhen's East City. It is a cultural project built from old ceramic factories. Walk into Taoxichuan today, and you will see tall chimneys, sawtooth roofs, and weathered red bricks. The old factory buildings have become creative studios, a dream space for ceramic lovers. Taoxichuan has been recognized as a national base for mass entrepreneurship and innovation. That means it is not just about art, but also about helping people turn their ideas into businesses.

Kang Shuying, a marketing official at Taoxichuan, said the park began operating in 2016 and now hosts 33,000 ceramic artists from about 50 countries. Whatever idea an artist has, Taoxichuan provides the space and materials to realize it. The environment is convenient, and supplies are easy to get. She said from the very beginning, this place has been popular with international artists.

Italian ceramic artist Marcello De Simone is one of them. He finds the city "efficient, professional and friendly." Materials and kiln space are easy to obtain. Local technicians know their craft. And the people around him are always willing to help. For him, that combination has made Jingdezhen feel like home.

Jingdezhen has always proved that its real treasure isn't just clay. It's the way it welcomes the world. And the world keeps coming in.

Source: Science and Technology Daily