On the morning of May 7, the "Respect Changsha Kiln"—2026 "Colored Porcelain Source" Chinese and International Ceramic Artists' Creative Exchange was held in the Tongguan Kiln Ancient Town, Wangcheng District, Changsha. This international academic meeting among ceramic artists from China and abroad marks a significant step forward for the thousand-year-old Changsha Kiln in its journey toward international dialogue and contemporary transformation. During the event, ceramic artists from Australia, the United States, and South Korea gathered with Tang Zhi, dean of the Academy of Arts & Design at Changsha Normal University; Luo Lan, director of the International Exchange Office at Changsha Normal University; and several national intangible cultural heritage inheritors and master craftsmen from the Tongguan ceramics production area. Drawing inspiration from the Changsha Kiln, the participants shared and discussed their creative achievements and experiences in ceramic art.

In his remarks, Luo Lan noted that as the "first kiln of Chinese colored porcelain" and an important witness to the Maritime Silk Road, the Changsha Kiln embodies the profound heritage of Huxiang culture. Introducing international artist residencies and fostering creative exchanges between Chinese and foreign artists are effective ways to revitalize traditional craftsmanship and promote the art of the Changsha Kiln to the world.

Five artists from China and abroad delivered keynote presentations. Australian ceramic artist Debbie Hill recounted her creative journey from painting to ceramics, while South Korean ceramic artist Yun Junho explored the potential dialogue between the tradition of celadon porcelain and the underglaze colors of the Changsha Kiln. Local artists Liu Xiaoyong, Liu Jiahao, and Jiang Wenbin, meanwhile, presented a vivid picture of the living heritage of the Changsha Kiln from the perspectives of core craftsmanship inheritance, brand innovation, and cultural communication, respectively, offering foreign artists an important local perspective for understanding Chinese ceramic culture.

Tang Zhi remarked that the international artist-in-residence program is a key initiative by the academy to promote artistic exchange between China and the world and to enhance the quality of its academic programs. In the future, the academy will continue to organize more residency and exchange activities to foster deeper integration between the university and the Tongguan ceramic area, allowing the thousand-year-old kiln fires to spark new possibilities through the dynamic interplay of international art.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: Chinanews