On March 29th, Professor Jiang Xiaoli, Deputy Dean of Silk Road School （SRS）, led a class of students to Jingdezhen Ceramic University for research and communication, to investigate the international experience of the university, as well as the inheritance and development of ceramic art, and the way of Sino-foreign exchanges of ceramic art. Yang Fan, Deputy Dean of the International College of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Hu Ni, Deputy Chief of the Admissions and Academic Affairs Section of the International College, and Wang Liling, Deputy Director of the International Ceramic Art Studio, warmly welcomed them. Overseas students from Australia, France, Russia, Georgia, Liberia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Ghana, Zambia and other countries participated.

Jingdezhen is the mecca of the world's ceramic culture, and for thousands of years, fine porcelain has traveled from here to the world through arduous and long journeys. Porcelain has become the main cultural symbol for the world to understand China. Yang Fan said that in today's globalized world, Jingdezhen Ceramic University continues to use ceramics as a medium, on the basis of inheriting traditional ceramic skills, absorbing the essence of traditional Chinese art and Western aesthetics, focusing on innovation in materials, technology, modeling and decoration, creating and developing new forms of artistic expression such as 'modern folk blue and white', 'ceramic comprehensive decoration', 'modern porcelain painting art' and 'image sculpture', and promoting the personalized, diversified and international development of Chinese modern ceramic art.

SRS students first came to the art museum of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, which coincided with the exhibition of 'The Journey of Porcelain - 2023 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale', where excellent ceramic artworks from 48 countries around the world, including vessels, sculptures, paintings, installations, and videos, displayed their beauty in this space. Students were fascinated by the variety of ceramic artworks. They stopped to admire, carefully savoring the uniqueness of each piece, and felt the profound cultural heritage contained in ceramic art. Nahid, from Australia, said: 'These ceramics are so beautiful. They not only show the craftsmanship but also convey a rich cultural connotation. ”

The application of new materials, new processes and new concepts embodied in the exhibition, the integration of ceramic art styles and characteristics of different countries and regions, and the combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern design, not only brought a visual feast to the international students, but also guided them to a new impetus and direction for their research topics.

Afterwards, students came to the International Ceramist Studio, where they first visited and learned about the creative environment of the studio and the application process of the artist-in-residence, and Mr. Stan, an artist from Congo, enthusiastically introduced the painting process and techniques of underglaze to the students, and guided the students to experience painting one by one. It was a unique and challenging artistic journey for the students. In the process of painting, they carefully dipped their brushes into the paint and painted on the vessels, creating the most beautiful picture on the ceramics one by one.

Pich, from Cambodia, said excitedly that this was her first attempt at ceramic creation, and although the process was a bit difficult, she felt very satisfied and proud when she completed her work. This experience gave her a deeper understanding of the past and present of ceramic art, and of the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese culture.

This visiting experience not only allowed the international students to feel the charm of ceramic art and enhance their understanding of Chinese culture, but also showed them how a university in a small Chinese town uses art and culture as a medium to inherit traditional skills while being open-minded and learning from others, and embarking on a personalized, diversified and international development path.