Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “‘Chinese White’ Showcases the Charm of the East”, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
At the exhibition site, visitors are taking photos of white porcelain exhibits.
Light and elegant skirts as thin as cicada wings, intricately carved flower petals blooming with shyness, and a smiling Buddha with lowered brows exuding compassion and gentleness… Stepping into the exhibition hall, each exquisite piece of Dehua white porcelain left visitors marveling in admiration.
Recently, the "Chinese White · Dehua Porcelain" Art Exhibition debuted at the National Art Museum of China. Themed "Virtue Spreads Across the World, Nurturing All Things," the exhibition selected over 150 pieces (sets) of ceramic artworks, covering fields such as figure sculpture, decorative vessels, and installation art. The exhibition is divided into three units: "Searching for Him in the Crowd," "Morning and Evening," and "A Single White Under Heaven," showcasing Dehua's profound ceramic culture, exquisite porcelain-making techniques, and beautiful white porcelain works.
The first unit, "Searching for Him in the Crowd," takes its preface from the famous line of Song Dynasty poet Xin Qiji, implying that artists seek and explore amidst a flurry of creative inspiration, ultimately reaching a moment of brilliance. The second unit, "Morning and Evening," is derived from a famous line by Song Dynasty poet Qin Guan, symbolizing that white porcelain is not only an artwork but can also enter the homes of ordinary people, becoming daily furnishings or utensils, accompanying people through morning and evening. The third unit, "A Single White Under Heaven," features white porcelain installation works that combine traditional classical aesthetics with contemporary artistic concepts, highlighting the romance belonging to the Chinese people and embodying the spirit of inheriting the past and innovating the present.
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, it would be hard to imagine that this texture, like thin gauze, comes from ceramics. I can't help but marvel at the craftsmanship of the maker," a visitor traveling to Beijing with their child told the reporter. "I'm very fortunate that when planning our trip, we specifically added this stop. To appreciate so many exquisite artworks in one go is truly a feast for the eyes."
Dehua white porcelain has a long history. Its body is pure white, its texture solid and dense, and its feel crystal-clear like jade, making it a brilliant pearl in Chinese ceramic art. Dehua is located in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, an important starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. The ceramics produced here were already being exported overseas via Quanzhou Port during the Song and Yuan dynasties, becoming a key commodity in Maritime Silk Road trade. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Dehua white porcelain was praised as "Chinese White" by the French, becoming an important symbol of Eastern aesthetics.
To this day, the kilns of Dehua continue to burn without ceasing, and the porcelain road extends to the present, with the ceramic industry moving towards the hundred-billion-yuan level. According to reports, Dehua is the largest production and export base for ceramic handicrafts in China. Daily-use ceramics and craft ceramics produced here are sold to over 190 countries and regions, accounting for more than 60% of the national ceramic handicraft export market.
Dehua white porcelain artisans learn from the past without being constrained by it, boldly innovating while inheriting tradition, creating a myriad of Dehua porcelain vessels. This continuously expands the artistic themes of Dehua porcelain, enriches the character images, and diversifies the expression techniques. Contemporary Dehua ceramics, while continuing tradition, further restore, inherit, develop, and innovate white porcelain craftsmanship, endowing Dehua white porcelain with more profound connotations. Today, Dehua white porcelain, which combines traditional charm with modern flavor, is widely loved both at home and abroad.
It is reported that the exhibition will run until August 9.
Source: Read the original article | Published: July 31, 2024