FrenchceramicartistCamilleGrandatyhasbeenlivinginJingdezhen,China,fornearlyadecade.Shewouldlearnceramic-makingtechniqueswithlocalmastersandregularlymeetwithceramicartistsfromaroundtheworld.Overtheyears,sheestablishedherownstudio,developingacreativestylethatblendsEasternandWesternartisticelements.
Despiteherextensivepracticeandstudy,onemightassumeCamillefullyunderstandstheintricaciesofChineseceramics.However,sheadmitstofeelinga"distance"fromthecraftduetoculturaldifferences.FascinatedbytheoriginsofancientChineseceramic-makingtechniquesandthesecretsbehindJingdezhen'sstatusastheworld'sceramiccapitalforover1,000years,Camilleiseagertodeepenherunderstandingofthisremarkabletradition.
Thissummer,shejoinedthePathSeekers,togetherwithGongLiang,honorarydirectoroftheNanjingMuseum.TheyembarkedonajourneyalongtheancientKaolinRoad,locatedabout50kilometerseastofJingdezhen.Gonghighlightedthehistoricalsignificanceofthisseeminglymodestroute,whichonceservedasavitalarteryfortransportingKaolinclay-thekeyingredientinporcelainproduction.Theadvanced"BinaryFormulationsApproach",whichinvolvesmixingKaolinclaywithporcelainstone,playedapivotalroleinJingdezhen'semergenceasaglobalceramichubforoveramillennium.
Eachstepalongtheancientroadbroughtnewinsights.Theteamexploredminingsites,historicstreets,andancientdocks,aswellaskilns,porcelainfactories,andmuseums.Atthemuseums,CamillediscoveredtheprofoundculturalexchangebetweenEasternandWesterncivilizationsthroughtheintricatedesignsof"exportporcelain".Duringavisittoayoungceramicartist'sstudio,sheadmiredhowtraditionalcraftsmanshipseamlesslyintegrateswithmoderndesignconcepts.Inspiredbytheseexperiences,CamilleandGongcollaboratedtocreateablue-and-whiteporcelainbowl,whichtheynamedYuanfen-aChinesetermmeaning"destiny"or"specialconnection".
TransportingKaolinwasjustonestepforwardinrefiningrawmaterials.Thededicationofcraftsmenwhospendtheirentirelivesmasteringasinglecraft-aninheritanceofskillandspirit-istrulythesoulofChineseporcelain.AmidthebustlingcrowdsofTaoxichuanatdusk,wherehistoryandmodernityconverge,Camillereflectedonherjourney.ThroughPathSeekers,shegainedadeeperappreciationoftheartformandthecountryshehascalledhomeforthepasttenyears.
今年，是法国陶瓷艺术家开弥（CamilleGrandaty）在江西景德镇生活的第十年。在这里，开弥跟着当地老师傅切磋瓷艺，与中外年轻陶艺师定期聚会，她也慢慢建立了自己的工作室，创作风格主打一个中西合璧。
十年里，总觉得对中国瓷再熟悉不过了，但是开弥依然觉得“隔”。
隔在哪里？隔在文化的那一层。“我做瓷，但不知道中国古代制瓷最厉害的技艺从哪儿来？为什么景德镇能成为千年瓷都？一直上手做，但更想深入了解精髓。”
今年夏天，开弥跟随“PathSeekers问道中国”徒步小组，与南京博物院名誉院长龚良先生一起，来到景德镇以东约50公里处的高岭古道。龚良先生告诉她，不要小看这短短几公里的古道，当年，它是运送高岭土的重要通道；不要小看高岭土，那可是制瓷的关键原料，正是高岭土和瓷石混合配比“二元配方”的进步，加速成就了“千年瓷都”。
从古道出发，移步换景，走过矿区、古街、古码头，走进窑厂、瓷厂、博物馆，在色彩独特的“外销瓷”展品里了解东西方文明的交流互鉴，在年轻陶艺家的工作室欣赏传统工艺与现代设计的“牵手”，开弥与龚良先生兴致所至，合作完成青花瓷碗手工画坯，起名“缘分”。
高岭土的运送只是实现原料的进阶，而“一辈子只做一件事”的匠心与传承，可谓中国瓷的灵魂。夜幕下的陶溪川，人潮涌动，古老又年轻，随着“问道”之旅的不断深入，开弥对生活了十年的这个国家有了更深刻的理解。