In the misty mountains of Jiangxi province, Indian ceramicist Priya Sundaravalli Sudharsan kneads clay alongside master artisans in Jingdezhen – a city revered for producing 'white gold' porcelain for emperors since the Song Dynasty. Her journey from Chennai to this 1,700-year-old ceramic hub reveals how ancestral craftsmanship transcends borders.
"Jingdezhen isn't just about technique; it's about the soul in every celadon glaze and blue-and-white brushstroke," says Sudharsan, who collaborates with sixth-generation kiln specialists. Together, they experiment with Indian motifs on traditional qinghua porcelain, creating pieces that fetch attention at international design fairs.
Beyond the workshops, the artist-turned-cultural ambassador savors street food at the Taoxichuan night market and shares chai recipes with local residents. "This exchange isn't just preserving history – it's writing its next chapter," she observes, noting increased interest from Southeast Asian collectors in hybrid ceramic styles.
