Photo shows the Phase-I project of Taoxichuan CeramicArt Avenue, Jingdezhen.(courtesy of Ceramic Culture Tourism Group)
Jingdezhen produces porcelain superior,
Embracing the craftsmanship of masters' hands.
Craftsmen flock here from far and near,
Making ceramic wares to reach all lands.
Jingdezhen has been an open "immigrant" city since ancient times. The agglomeration of skillful craftsmen from near and far has contributed to some of the best moments in the ceramic industry, adding an infinite amount of vitality and creativity to this city. The passage of time has enriched the city's cultural heritage, attracting numerous "Jingdezhen Drifters", who have come here to pursue their long-cherished dreams. They've come with a vision for their future, and long to work with their hands to make a difference in their career.
Of the many places "Jingdezhen Drifters" gather, Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue is a paradise for their dreams.
On a sunny afternoon at Yi Space, some young creators are already seen to be busy working at their stalls before the crowds arrive. Some are carefully wiping and cleaning the goods, or painting porcelain plates attentively, others chatting with their neighboring peers about the latest styles. Their works are very creative: freehand patterns on wares with little animals wearing neckties, a cute kitten peeking out from behind an ashtray, a lovely naïve-looking chubby child sitting on top of a porcelain jar and chomping watermelon…
Yi Space, transformed from an old kiln workshop with an area of over 3,000 square meters, offers all its stalls to young entrepreneurs free of charge, subject to certain conditions. One of the most important criteria is that the products must be original. The operating performance of the stallholders is subject to dynamic screening and evaluation by the management, and they are either weeded out or promoted.
Chen Chengfeng, a native of Fuzhou City, also in Jiangxi Province, and a student at Jiangxi Arts & Ceramics Technology Institute, started his small workshop with his friend here. He loves the fair and friendly atmosphere within this ceramic creative space.
"The positions of our stalls are rotated every three months by random draw. That's really fair. We are all young, and we get along with each other." Chen Chengfeng loves to make friends. He still recalls the early days when he first set up his stall at Taoxichuan Creative Theme Market and hit it off with his present partner. Later, he met his creator girlfriend while working at Yi Space. Every time he encounters a problem with making porcelain, he is always able to get a helping hand from his peers.
"I will stay at Taoxichuan after graduation. It's located in an ancient town, and has a nice startup platform." There are many "Jingdezhen Drifters" like Chen here. This is where they start up their business and create, and Jingdezhen has turned out to be their second hometown.
Photo shows a night ceramic fair held in Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue,Jingdezhen. (courtesy of Ceramic Culture Tourism Group)
When night falls, the Creative Theme Market begins to bustle. The entire street is lighted up by the lamps at the stalls that line the street, and vendors are busy putting their stalls in order, exuding prosperity.
"Advantageous resources", stressed time and again by Miss Ding, a creator from southeast China’s Fujian Province, who has just graduated from Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, is the reason why she has chosen to set up a stall here. She is passionate about handcrafted ceramics and wants to give it a shot. She and her friend have opened a studio together. This two-person studio mainly makes fridge magnets, badges, toothpaste holders, and other exquisite ceramic items. Taoxichuan has significant foot traffic, and offers affordable rental and common gas kiln facilities. These are some of the factors that help underpin her startup dream.
"Later, when I have more money and build up stronger ability, I will start a small factory of my own and draw more people here so that we can work together."
Miss Ding's goal may appear simple, but who are we to judge whether a dream is simple or great. At Taoxichuan, the most dreadful thing is: You do not have a dream.
This is a popular place for ceramics at Jingdezhen, where superior technology and profound culture have existed for centuries. How does Jingdezhen continue to exude such powerful charm and appeal? Jingdezhen Ceramic Culture Tourism Group has an unequivocal answer: Jingdezhen is not just narrating a story of the past, it is developing a brighter future. Evolving ceramic technology, craftsmen, both young and old, are using their own ways to sustain the glorious history of Jingdezhen as the millennia-old capital of ceramics.
Jingdezhen Ceramic Culture Tourism Group, developer and service provider of Taoxichuan, is one of this city's cultural guardians.
"We have been thinking about what we can do for the industry and the city," says XiongHonghua, deputy general manager of the Company. "Art requires external intervention. Young people are excellent content providers for promoting Jingdezhen culture, and they are the cornerstone of urban construction and corporate development. What we do is to provide them with a place to find their footing and settle down so that 'Jingdezhen Drifters' will make Taoxichuan their home, a place where they will never want to leave."
As a Chinese saying goes, "Plant big sycamore trees, and phoenixes will come." In addition to Yi Space and the weekend market, the Company has launched the Spring and Autumn Fairs to attract artists and craftsmen from home and abroad,It has establishedJingdezhen International Studio for foreign artists in residence,Taoxichuan Live Streaming Base to help "Jingdezhen Drifters" expand their sales channels; and a brand-new apartment complex to encourage artistic lifestyles. To date, Taoxichuan has incubated 16,547 creators, hosted 1,200 stalls at the Creative Theme Market, provided 60,000 jobs along the whole industrial chain, and allowed over 2,600 startups.
The established Taoxichuan Phase-I project accounts for only 10 percent of the whole plan. Phase II is now under construction, and will offer more features, such as an opera house, a library, a music conservatory, Kilns Square, and a music square. Starting with ceramics, "Jingdezhen Drifters" will be able to expand into industry, arts and other fields to make their dream come true.
It is late at night. Yi Space is still bustling and brightly lit. At the live streaming base not far from here, anchors are busy preparing to go all out during the coming "Double Eleven" shopping spree. Ryan LaBar, a foreign drifter who enjoys working late at night, is now ready at his workbench, deep in thought over a new piece of creation…
Perseverance, passion, and creativity are what it takes for "Jingdezhen Drifters" to weave and realize their dreams at Taoxichuan.
This is the ancient capital of porcelain. This is the young Taoxichuan. This is also a town of dreams, and a town to realize your dream. The fire in the kilns has been burning for thousands of years. The three Chinese characters, "Tao Xi Chuan”, literally "ceramics stream river", embody the true culture of ceramics, which like streams, gather to form a river running towards the future.
Photo shows the Creative Fair in Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue, Jingdezhen.(courtesy of Ceramic Culture Tourism Group)
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