People-to-people exchanges

Foreign ceramic artists have contributed to the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Jingdezhen and other countries.

Working as a product designer and artist, Ribalta has embarked on a research and artistic creation project at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, focusing on the applied painting traditions in Chinese and Catalan ceramics. This opportunity arose through the international artist residency program at the institute.

"I hope to continue contributing my small grain of sand in China and to serve as a bridge that connects both Chinese and Spanish cultures. Although geographically distant, these territories reside close to my heart," Ribalta said.

"It's only interactions that make us better, and we are welcoming more and more exchanges, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. With borders opening to each other, there should be more international projects to connect us."

Meanwhile, just like centuries ago, Jurell is bringing modern Jingdezhen ceramics back to Sweden.

"I am currently working on an exhibition in Stockholm, set to open in spring 2024 and run throughout the summer," Jurell said. "The exhibition will showcase a collection of Chinese porcelain, featuring a beautifully crafted qilin (a mythical animal in China)."

During the past three years of the pandemic, when Jurell was unable to go back to Jingdezhen, he had been working on a book titled The Fish in the Sky — A Story About Broken Porcelain, About Love and Art.

With the book, created based on his experience in Jingdezhen and set to be published next year, and the exhibition, Jurell hopes to be a bridge in the understanding of Chinese culture and thinking.

"I hope to present old China in a new light to a fresh audience, while also showcasing the contemporary ceramic culture of China," he said.

Contact the writers at zhaoruinan@chinadaily.com.cn