Exhibition 'The Blue Revolution’ travels to China

Since October the exhibition: ‘Jingdezhen-Delft: The Blue Revolution, 400 years of exchange’ is presented in the Jingdezhen Imperial Porcelain Museum. This Sino-Dutch exhibition is a cooperation between the Chinese city of Jingdezhen and the Dutch city of Delft. Both cities have a rich history in manufacturing ceramics. Jingdezhen is believed to have produced pottery as early as the sixth century. And the city of Delft is well-known for manufacturing ceramics during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century.

The exhibition in the Imperial Porcelain Museum is the result of the Artist in Residence program; a collaboration between Dutch and Chinese ceramic artists. For four years, eight ceramic artists from China and The Netherlands have exchanged their handicraft. They visited each other’s countries and shared knowledge, competence and design. The Blue Revolution exhibition showcases the results of this exchange with a special focus on the experiences of the artists.

The Blue Revolution exhibition gives visitors insight in 400 years of history of exchange of ceramics and technics between China and The Netherlands. The Delft Blue ceramics are known worldwide and are promoted as a typical Dutch product. But how Dutch are these ceramics actually? The truth is that the first Delft Blue ceramics are an ordinary copy of the traditional blue-white porcelain from Jingdezhen. The Dutch East India Company had a lively trade with China and in the 17th century imported millions of pieces of Chinese porcelain. With the Jingdezhen porcelain as a model the Dutch ceramic artist created their own unique ceramics. The Jingdezhen Imperial Porcelain Museum also showcases some of their special collection of ‘kraak’ porcelain during the exhibition. The ‘kraak’ porcelain was frequently featured in Dutch still life paintings.

The official opening of the Jingdezhen-Delft exhibition was scheduled during the world famous Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair which took place from October 18th till October 22th. The exhibition was successfully exposed in Delft and travelling to China. After 400 years of ceramic exchange the two ceramic cities are now also exchanging culture and knowledge.

‘Jingdezhen-Delft: The Blue Revolution’ can be seen in the Imperial Porcelain Museum till December 1st this year.

Link of news in Chinese media:

http://www.chinanews.com/cul/2013/10-21/5405868.shtml

http://www.jdzol.com/2013/1020/72067.html

http://www.jdz.gov.cn/jrcd/201310/t20131021_283073.htm

http://www.yichunba.com/article-57308-1.html