Generation Z International Youth: Talking about Ceramics as a Bridge for International Cultural Exchange Jingdezhen | International Students | Youth
Jingdezhen, China News Agency, June 19 (Xinhua) Question: "Generation Z" International Youth "Talking about Ceramics: Building a Bridge between International Cultural Exchanges
China News Network reporter Li Yunhan
"As an international student from countries along the the Belt and Road, I will continue to tell Chinese stories and promote cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries through ceramics," said Mai Di, an international youth of "Generation Z" from Jingdezhen Ceramic University in Egypt.
On the afternoon of 18th, "Generation Z" international youth from Russia, Egypt, Madagascar, Bangladesh, Türkiye, Pakistan and other countries gathered in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, the "Millennium Ceramic Capital", to discuss the inheritance of the millennium ceramic culture.
"This year is my fourth year in Jingdezhen. Through continuous learning, I have gained a deeper understanding of Chinese ceramic culture and a stronger love for ceramics." Maidi, who graduated this year, said that he will continue to stay in China for development and create more blue and white porcelain that combines Arab civilization with Chinese civilization.
"In South Korea, we start with mud, and we need to do everything ourselves, such as pulling, standing, glaze matching, glaze application, and firing. We accumulate a certain amount of work before it can be fully fired in the kiln. The waiting time for firing can sometimes be as long as three or four months." Liu Shiheng, from South Korea, is currently studying for a doctoral degree at Jingdezhen Ceramic University. In his opinion, there are specialized craftsmen in every process of porcelain making in Jingdezhen, and he can develop his own advantages with a focus.
Liu Shiheng said that it is precisely because of this convenience that Jingdezhen has become a "holy land" in the hearts of ceramic artists around the world. At the same time, Jingdezhen uses ceramic culture as its language, combines traditional culture with modern culture, conforms to the networked empowerment of Generation Z, vigorously promotes ceramic culture, and makes more people aware of Jingdezhen.
In Liu Shiheng's view, as international youth under the development of Generation Z, it is even more important to serve as a bridge for international cultural exchange, while boldly innovating and combining digital means with traditional ceramic art and craftsmanship, to deeply integrate the digital economy and ceramic industry, and to continuously promote Jingdezhen ceramic culture.
Alice Maria, an international student from Nanchang University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Morocco, said that Jingdezhen, known as the "porcelain capital," has aroused the curiosity of young people. As an international youth of Generation Z, she yearns to witness the complex creative process of these exquisite porcelain pieces, which are symbols of cultural heritage and make people want to explore the stories and technologies embedded in each piece of porcelain.
Jingdezhen, located in the northeast of Jiangxi Province, is a world-renowned "millennium porcelain capital" with over 2000 years of history in pottery smelting, over 1000 years of history in official kilns, and over 600 years of history in imperial kilns. It is the only city in the world supported by the ceramic industry for millennium development.