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International artists make ceramic works. [Photo/Tide News]

Shaoxing's Shangyu district, the birthplace of Yue kiln celadon, is welcoming internationally renowned ceramic artists who are drawing inspiration from its 2,000-year-old porcelain tradition while creating works for the 52nd International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) Congress.

Since April, the Shangyu Celadon Modern International Ceramic Center has hosted five artists from Australia, South Africa, Mexico, and other countries as part of the IAC's global artist residency program. Their completed works have been shipped to Jingdezhen, where they will be exhibited during the congress.

During their residency, the artists explored ancient kiln sites, museum collections, and local life, transforming Shangyu's rich ceramic heritage into contemporary artistic expressions.

Australian ceramic artist Moraig McKenna praised the opportunity to work in what she described as the "source of the world's porcelain", while fellow Australian artist Li Rushi reinterpreted Yue kiln celadon glazes to create pieces that blend Eastern aesthetics with modern design.

South African artist Hennie Meyer continued his signature practice of crafting every work from exactly 400 grams of clay, symbolizing the equal beginning of every human life.

Meanwhile, Mexican ceramic artist and biologist Jeronimo Sainz de Aguero found inspiration in Shangyu's crayfish season, using local porcelain clay to create sculptures that connect ecology, waterways, and celadon's distinctive green glaze.

The residency has become a bridge linking Shangyu's ancient celadon culture with the global ceramic community. During the IAC Congress, works from Shangyu and six other participating art institutions will be showcased, offering an international audience a fresh perspective on the enduring legacy and creative vitality of China's "source of celadon".