Chongqing - On the fifth day of the "Let's Create! Global Creative Masters in Chongqing" event, the Italian artists continued their immersive journey into Chongqing's cultural heartlands. Professor Nicola Boccini from the Academy of Fine Arts of Perugia led a group to Rongchang, a district famed for its centuries-old pottery tradition.

Originating from Anfu Town of Rongchang, Rongchang Pottery traces its documented history back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). It flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties, peaked in the 1970s, and gained global acclaim over a century ago, with exports reaching Southeast Asia and later the U.S., Germany, Japan, and beyond. Renowned for its "red as dates, thin as paper, resonant as chimes, and glossy as mirrors" quality, Rongchang pottery excels in both artistry and utility.

Boccini was amazed by the broken bowls (Photo/Feng Xiaolou)

At a pottery museum, Boccini was struck by an installation of shattered bowls from the local custom, "smash the wine bowl", where drinkers break their wine cups after a toast - symbolizing boldness or farewell. Every cup or bowl was a different story, but after breaking, they all stayed together and mixed," he mused. "This is a story of contemporary art. I like it!"

Later that day, a seminar was held between the Italian designers and local pottery producers. In response to the producers' inquiry about the sustainable development of this cultural heritage, Maria Lole Serreli stressed the importance of fostering more intercultural exchanges to bring together the forces of governments, enterprises, and academic institutions.

The artists plan to learn from Rongchang Pottery to create new works blending Italian design with Chongqing's ceramic heritage. Their pieces, expected to range from avant-garde sculptures to functional wares, may debut at international exhibitions later. 

Maria was learning from locals by playing instruments of Rongchang Pottery (Photo/Feng Xiaolou)

As the event progresses, such cross-cultural dialogues prove that inspiration often lies in the most unexpected fragments - whether in a shard of pottery or the fusion of two distant artistic worlds.