"China's ceramic art has been popular in the global market since the Ming and Qing dynasties. Foshan ceramic can also be an important brand product that enables overseas customers to learn about the history and culture of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)," Hu Qi, the marketing director of Foshan New Shiwan Artistic Ceramic Co. LTD (New Meitao) told GDToday.
Photo: Clarice
Shiwan Ceramic originated in Foshan, and has a history spanning over 5000 years. The advantageous factors such as historical legacy, skilled workforce, and favorable geographic location have collectively propelled Foshan to the forefront of the global ceramic industry.
Statistics from the Foshan Municipal Bureau of Statistics indicate that the city's ceramic industry accounts for a significant portion of its economy, with over 1,000 ceramic-related enterprises, employing more than 300,000 people in 2023.
Shiwan Ceramic sought development in the enterprise rectification
67 years ago, Shiwan town, Foshan, had only one ceramic product factory. In 1956, Shiwan town officials integrated scattered ceramic workshops and set up the public-private joint venture Shiwan Art Ceramics Factory.
In the early 1980s, Shiwan Ceramic began to adjust the structure of large-scale products, and developed building ceramics and sanitary ware due to the reform. "However, the Shiwan art ceramics were still based on the handmade crafts in the Shiwan Art Ceramics Factory. It had to make some changes to complete the industrialization," said Hu.
In 2006, the factory transformed into a private enterprise, the New Meitao, with the help of related Foshan authorities. "In addition to cultivating ceramic artists, New Meitao also set up an independent innovation department to achieve a mechanized, semi-automated production scale. Nowadays, New Meitao launches about 300-400 new products every year, with an annual output of more than 100,000 pieces," Hu introduced.
After 60 years of development, it has become one of the leading enterprises that produce fine art ceramics into an enterprise with ceramic masters, designers, and skilled technicians, specializing in the production of display, architectural, decorative, and daily art ceramics.
Foshan promotes Shiwan Ceramic in both production and construction worldwide
"With more orders coming from overseas, we see the trend of diverse aesthetics and personalized products. We not only have the most symbolized product of our company, 'Zhong Kui,' a folk hero who fights ghosts and hunts demons in traditional Chinese culture, but we also provide fine ceramic decoration inspired by zodiac signs from Western culture. Both are hot-selling products,” she introduced.
"Zhong Kui" is a folk hero who haunted ghosts for the house in the traditional Chinese culture, meaning “Leading safety and peace to the house.”The sculpture was designed by the national master of art and craft, Liu Zemian. (Photo provided to GDToday)
The sculpture is the western zodiac sign "Capricorn," with a lovely Chinese baby face. (Photo provided to GDToday)
Foshan built up its ceramic brand by strengthening international communication through cultural festivals. "Foshan held the 7th China Ceramic Creative Week 2023 in October to make international ceramic lovers involved in the creation. The event attracted more than 40 outstanding young artists worldwide, including those from the United States, Uganda, and South Korea,” said Huang Ting, Deputy Director of Guangdong Shiwan Ceramic Museum, “Excellent artists learned the charm of Foshan ceramic and injected new vitality into ceramic art through their creative craftwork at the same time."
In addition, Foshan held a project promotion meeting on building a ceramic creative park in the New Meitao area of the Chancheng District on May 6th 2023, showing its ambition to create a new name card for Foshan ceramics. Six enterprises signed up to settle in the ceramic creative park during the event, in the fields of ceramic furniture design and creative content dissemination.
Moreover, Foshan's Chancheng District officials issued a measure on May 5th 2023 to support the Meitao Bay area's cultural and creative industry. Meitao Bay area shall be awarded a maximum of 4 million RMB to develop six aspects, including talent training, entrepreneurial services, enterprise introduction, industrial carriers, cultural events, and ceramic culture research, according to the report from Nanfang Metropolis.
Foshan's ceramic products are widely exported to over 160 countries and regions, making the city a major player in the international ceramics trade. Foshan Ceramic Industry Association reported that the total output value of the Foshan ceramic industry was 49.398 billion RMB, an increase of 9.0 percent in the first half of 2023.
Reporter | Clarice
Editor | Olivia, Jasmine, James
