On June 25th (local time, CEST), a Yue Kiln celadon art exhibition to present the works of Ningbo celadon master Shi Zhen opened at the Art of Fire Gallery in Rouen, France. China’s domestic Yue Kiln celadon made its first appearance abroad as the national intangible cultural heritage project from Ningbo brought an inaugural exhibition to France.
当地时间6月25日，“偶然之美”——施珍越窑青瓷艺术展在法国鲁昂市火艺展览馆盛大开幕。这是越窑青瓷第一次走出国门，也是宁波国家级非遗项目首次来到法国举办展览。
“The two sister cities of Ningbo and Rouen are forging closer ties. Through this exhibition of porcelain – an emblematic symbol of Chinese culture – the two cities have created a new platform for cultural dialogue so that each will value its own civilization and facilitate their common progress as well,” said Shi.
“瓷器是中国文化的代表性符号，宁波和鲁昂是越走越近的友好城市，如今，两座城市通过陶瓷艺术打开了新的对话空间，各美其美，美美与共。”宁波籍越窑青瓷大师施珍说道。
The year 2024 commemorates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, as well as the 34th anniversary of Ningbo-Rouen sister-city relationship. In honor of the everlasting friendship, this overseas celadon exhibition is hosted by Ningbo Municipal People’s Government and organized by the Rouen-Ningbo Friendship Committee and the Art of Fire Gallery in Rouen, France.
今年是中法建交60周年，也是宁波市与法国鲁昂市建立友好城市关系34周年。本次艺术展由宁波市人民政府主办，由法国鲁昂—宁波友好委员会和火艺展览馆承办。
The inseparable lingual connection between Chinese Qingci (“celadon”) and French word “céladon” adds to the significance of the event. In English, porcelain is commonly referred to as “china”, yet Qingci has the distinct name of “celadon”, underscoring its esteemed status. It is noteworthy that the term “celadon” is derived from the French word “céladon”.
英语里，瓷器统称为“china”，但青瓷，有一个专有的名字叫“Celadon”（雪拉同），足见其地位。Celadon是从法文中演化而来的表示“青瓷”的专有名词，法语为Céladon，又称，雪拉同。
Meanwhile, Rouen was one of the early centers of porcelain production in France. The porcelain produced in Rouen in the late 17th century often featured intricate blue and white patterns and oriental designs, reminiscent of the renowned blue and white porcelain styles from Jingdezhen of southeastern China’s Jiangxi Province.
鲁昂是法国早期的瓷器生产中心之一。十七世纪末鲁昂生产的瓷器，多见青花图案和东方造型，令人联想到景德镇的青花瓷风格。
The exhibition consists of four distinct sections, showcasing a total of 20 artworks which adopt traditional firing techniques alongside innovative interpretations of Yue Kiln celadon. These new celadon creations uniquely blend Western abstract art with the traditional Chinese aesthetic of Yue Kiln celadon. On the opening day, the exquisite celadon artworks captivated numerous residents of Rouen, drawing them to explore and appreciate the display.
据了解，本次艺术展分为四个单元，共展出作品20件。其中，既有运用传统烧制技艺创作的作品，又有对越窑青瓷的艺术进行创新，将西方抽象主义艺术和中国传统的越窑青瓷相融合的新越窑青瓷作品。开展当天，精美的青瓷艺术品吸引众多鲁昂市民参观。
From June 26 to 28 (local time, CEST), Shi was invited to several events in Rouen, including delivering celadon lectures as well as master classes and engaging in professional art exchanges at local ceramics museums and the art gallery. These activities provided a warm opportunity for interaction with numerous local enthusiasts of ceramic art.
当地时间6月26日至28日，施珍在鲁昂美术馆举行青瓷讲座、在火艺画廊和诺曼底陶瓷中心开展大师课和专业艺术交流等活动，与众多当地陶瓷艺术爱好者进行友好互动。
“Being here evokes a wonderful sense of familiarity. I’m truly excited,” Shi shared her enthusiasm. To her, Rouen ― much like Ningbo ― holds a profound cultural heritage and embodies a blend of modernity and openness. By virtue of these engagements and exhibitions, she aims to present Ningbo’s national intangible cultural heritage of Yue Kiln celadon to the people of Rouen, further enriching Sino-French friendship with a vibrant cultural exchange. “Culture and art unite our hearts,” she concluded.
“来到这里，就有一种奇妙的亲切感，有回家的感觉，我的心情也非常激动。”施珍表示，鲁昂和宁波一样，非常有文化底蕴，是充满现代特色和开放包容的城市。通过活动和展览，她希望能把宁波的国家级非遗越窑青瓷，更好地展示给鲁昂的市民朋友，为中法友谊再添一抹亮色。“文化和艺术将我们的心连在了一起。”施珍说道。
The exhibition will last until September 22 local time in Rouen, France.
据悉，“偶然之美”——施珍越窑青瓷艺术展将在法国鲁昂持续至当地时间9月22日。