陶瓷人生
——記景德鎮(zhèn)陶瓷彩繪傳承人徐勝谷

文：本刊記者 雷露

數(shù)百年前，中國瓷器乘“海上絲綢之路”的風(fēng)帆，跨越浩瀚大海抵達(dá)歐洲，掀起一場席卷歐洲國家的“中國瓷器熱”。

2013年，習(xí)近平主席提出共建“一帶一路”合作倡議，7年來，從愿景到行動，從理念到共識，從立柱架梁到全面深入發(fā)展，該倡議國際影響力不斷提升。作為古代絲綢之路上的主要商品，中國陶瓷隨著“一帶一路”倡議的不斷深入，加速走向海外。

“景德鎮(zhèn)因瓷器而聞名，是一座與世界對話的城市，這座古老的城市充滿無限活力?！?986年出生于江西景德鎮(zhèn)樂平市的徐勝谷，從小學(xué)習(xí)繪畫，潛心專研陶瓷繪畫十余年，如今已是景德鎮(zhèn)陶藝界的佼佼者。他期待在新時代背景下，借著“一帶一路”倡議的東風(fēng)，將中國陶瓷文化推向更高峰。

初見

漫步景德鎮(zhèn)街頭，能看見許多與陶瓷有關(guān)的小店、工作室，店員和手藝人們便在這方天地中經(jīng)營著自己的陶瓷人生。

徐勝谷的工作室鐵硯齋也隱匿其中。走進(jìn)工作室，仿佛進(jìn)入了“動物世界”！柜上、桌上、工作臺上，甚至地上，都擺放著以自然、動物為主題創(chuàng)作的瓷器作品，奔馳的駿馬、靈動的豹子、兇猛的老虎……大小不一、神態(tài)迥異。心無旁騖的徐勝谷坐在工作臺后，手把器物，一筆一畫地潛心創(chuàng)作。埋頭工作時間長了，脖子有些僵硬，他緩緩起身活動一下筋骨，稍作休息后，又再次俯首投入創(chuàng)作。

工作臺上散落著瓷器、毛筆、墨盤等工具，雜亂中，徐勝谷總能準(zhǔn)確找到所需工具。指尖翻動間，一只栩栩如生的靈猴逐漸成型。伴著昏黃的燈光和舒緩的音樂，時間也變得緩慢，只有手中的物件能讓徐勝谷全情投入。

這門被稱為陶瓷彩繪的手藝，是手藝人在瓷胎器皿上，根據(jù)器皿用途、審美需求，利用各種陶瓷材料和工藝技術(shù)進(jìn)行描圖、填色、燒制。在與陶瓷打交道的20多年中，徐勝谷吸收融會了油畫、國畫、雕塑等技法，能綜合運用釉上、釉中、釉下等手法進(jìn)行創(chuàng)作。他還獨創(chuàng)了山楂野果堆積技法，將陶瓷特有的質(zhì)感與材質(zhì)美學(xué)發(fā)揮到極致。

功夫不負(fù)有心人，徐勝谷在陶瓷工藝上的創(chuàng)新得到了業(yè)內(nèi)的一致好評，先后被認(rèn)定為江西省工藝美術(shù)大家、非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)粉彩傳承人、國家一級陶瓷手工彩繪技師，并擔(dān)任中國國畫院江西分院陶瓷研究院副所長。從一個農(nóng)村娃成長為陶藝大家，徐勝谷表示：“愿把一生獻(xiàn)給景德鎮(zhèn)陶瓷事業(yè)，讓陶瓷藝術(shù)名揚(yáng)世界?！?/p>

熱愛

據(jù)《陶記》《景德鎮(zhèn)陶錄》等古籍記載，景德鎮(zhèn)制作陶瓷始于漢代。到了宋代，便有“村村窯火，戶戶陶埏”的美名。自元代開始到明清，歷代皇帝都派人到景德鎮(zhèn)監(jiān)制宮廷用瓷。歷史上，由于制瓷業(yè)發(fā)達(dá)，景德鎮(zhèn)瓷器或經(jīng)陸上“絲綢之路”，或經(jīng)“瓷器之路”的海上航線銷往海外，聞名世界。

“景德鎮(zhèn)制瓷歷史悠久、陶藝技藝精湛、陶瓷文化豐富，我希望更多人了解景德鎮(zhèn)陶瓷、愛上景德鎮(zhèn)陶瓷?！弊鳛榫暗骆?zhèn)新生代陶藝大師，思想活躍、眼光深遠(yuǎn)的徐勝谷致力于促進(jìn)中外文化交融，進(jìn)一步助推瓷文化走向世界。

2006年，徐勝谷創(chuàng)作作品《守望》在中國景德鎮(zhèn)國際陶瓷博覽會藝術(shù)陶瓷評比中獲得金獎，作品展現(xiàn)了秋冬時節(jié)，老樹橫生、古藤盤繞，一大一小兩只猿猴相互依偎，其清澈的眼神極具感染力。整套作品注重情趣和意境的營造，體現(xiàn)出獨特的陶瓷藝術(shù)語言所表達(dá)的美的境界。

2019年12月，在第二屆海南島國際電影節(jié)上，該作品還被活動方指定為電影節(jié)官方專屬禮品，再次受到全世界關(guān)注。

“《守望》被定為電影節(jié)專屬禮品，不僅是對我個人的認(rèn)可，更是對景德鎮(zhèn)瓷器的認(rèn)可?！弊髌肥撬囆g(shù)家最閃耀的名片，徐勝谷希望借助此次電影節(jié)的契機(jī)，架起景德鎮(zhèn)瓷都與世界對話的文化橋梁，進(jìn)一步擴(kuò)大景德鎮(zhèn)陶瓷的影響力。

《守望》Watching

鮮花、掌聲接踵而來。面對榮譽(yù)，徐勝谷坦然以對，在他看來，陶瓷彩繪是一門精細(xì)的手藝，要靜得下心，沉得住氣，忍受得了孤獨。為了讓作品中動物眼睛更傳神，花草姿態(tài)更優(yōu)美，他經(jīng)常獨自待上一整天，慢慢琢磨。觀察也是重要的靈感來源，有時他會帶著簡單的工具去戶外寫生，在大自然中吸取創(chuàng)作的養(yǎng)分。

經(jīng)過時光沉淀，徐勝谷的技藝更加嫻熟。

徐勝谷Xu Shenggu

傳承

縱觀徐勝谷的眾多作品，“生態(tài)”與“自然”一直是他創(chuàng)作的主旋律，并形成了以環(huán)保為主題的作品系列。

談到為什么選擇環(huán)保題材進(jìn)行創(chuàng)作時，徐勝谷頗有感觸。他表示，“對從事陶瓷繪畫的手人藝來說，繪畫的題材不同，表達(dá)的意義也不同，希望通過一件件作品表達(dá)出我內(nèi)心的想法和生活中的詩意”。

在徐勝谷的回憶中，江西農(nóng)村生活的童年時光愜意且閑適。但隨著在城市中生活越久，接觸到自然、原生態(tài)的事物就越少，這讓他萌生了將環(huán)保理念融入到陶藝創(chuàng)作中的念頭。

為了畫好各種動物形象、自然風(fēng)光，徐勝谷跑遍祖國大江南北，藏羚羊、獵豹、角馬等動物在他的筆下愈發(fā)鮮活；沙漠、森林、草原等景色在他筆下熠熠生輝。

他創(chuàng)作的陶藝作品《向往》，描繪一對獵豹蹲坐在山丘上，肅穆的凝望著遠(yuǎn)方，它們腳下是一片沙漠化的土地，幾株枯敗的干草透露出這片土地曾經(jīng)的繁茂；陶藝作品《北極熊》，描繪一頭北極熊站在僅剩的一塊冰面上，眼中流露出瀕臨死亡的無助……這些作品，或反映土地沙化，或關(guān)注全球變暖，但都有一個共同的訴求——呼吁人們保護(hù)大自然、愛護(hù)環(huán)境。

隨著技藝的提升，徐勝谷被越來越多人認(rèn)可，其作品愈發(fā)受到關(guān)注。推廣瓷器，關(guān)注公益，傳承瓷文化成了他工作的新重點。如今，只要有時間，徐勝谷就會放下手中的畫筆走上講臺，講景德鎮(zhèn)陶瓷的歷史、技藝、文化，與年輕人探討陶瓷藝術(shù)的真正價值。

“白色金子·東西瓷都——從景德鎮(zhèn)到梅森瓷器大展”在江西省博物館開展The “White Gold·East and West Porcelain Capital” Jingdezhen-Meissen Porcelain Exhibition kicked of at Jiangxi Provincial Museum（新華社 供圖）

Hundreds of years ago,Chinese porcelain sailed across the vast seas and arrived in Europe by the Maritime Silk Road,starting a “craze for Chinese porcelain” that would sweep major European countries.

In 2013,President Xi Jinping introduced the Belt and Road Initiative （BRI）. Over the past seven years,visions became actions,concepts became consensus,and infrastructure construction shifted to comprehensive in-depth development. The international influence of the BRI has been on the rise. As the main commodity on the ancient Silk Road,Chinese porcelain is quickening its step towards overseas markets as the BRI is further undertaken.

“Jingdezhen is famous for the porcelain it produces. It is a city that talks with the world. This time-honored city bursts with vitality.” Xu Shenggu was born in Leping,Jingdezhen,Jiangxi Province in 1986. He began to learn painting at a young age,and has devoted himself to porcelain painting for more than ten years. He is now a well-established porcelain craftsman in Jingdezhen. Xu Shenggu hopes to further promote China’s porcelain culture in the new era by seizing the opportunity that comes with the introduction of the BRI.

First encounter

Take a stroll in the streets of Jingdezhen and you can see many porcelain shops and studios. The shop assistants and craftsmen there are beginning their journey to the world of porcelain.

Xu Shenggu’s studio,Tieyanzhai,is one of them. His studio looks like a “world of animals”! The counter,the desk,the workbench and even the floor were scattered with nature- and animal-themed porcelain works in different shapes and sizes,such as galloping horses,clever leopards and fierce tigers.

Xu Shenggu was absorbed in his work behind the workbench,creating paintings on porcelain ware with a brush. He had been working for so long that his neck was sore. He got up slowly and stretched his arms and legs. After a short rest,he continued to work again.

Tools such as porcelain ware,brushes and ink stones were scattered on the workbench. Xu Shenggu could always find the tool he needed in the jumble. As his fingertips moved,a lifelike monkey took shape. Time slowed down its pace in the dim light and soothing music. Xu Shenggu was fully preoccupied with the objects in his hands.

This craft,called porcelain color painting,is a process in which craftsmen draw,color,and fire porcelain ware using porcelain materials and techniques according to the purpose and aesthetic needs of porcelain ware. Xu Shenggu assimilated the techniques of oil painting,traditional Chinese painting and sculpture into his porcelain painting over the past more than 20 years. He can integrate over-glaze,in-glaze and under-glaze techniques into his creations. His innovative technique of “stacking wild hawthorn fruits” can bring the unique texture and material aesthetics of porcelain into full play.

Hard work pays off. Xu Shenggu’s innovation in porcelain technology has won unanimous praise from the industry. He has been named master of arts and crafts in Jiangxi,inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of famille rose and national first-class hand porcelain painting technician,and he serves as the deputy director of the Porcelain Research Institute of the Jiangxi Branch of the Traditional Chinese Painting Institute of China. As a porcelain artist who grew up in the countryside,Xu Shenggu said,“I want to dedicate my life to porcelain in Jingdezhen and make porcelain art famous all over the world.”

Ardent love

According to ancient books such as

Stories of Porcelain

and

Porcelain Ware in Jingdezhen

,Jingdezhen began to make porcelain ware in the Han Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty,almost every village and household in Jingdezhen built kilns to fire porcelain ware. From the Yuan Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties,emperors dispatched officials to Jingdezhen to supervise the production of porcelain ware for use in the imperial court. Jingdezhen had a highly developed porcelain-making industry in history. The porcelain it produced was sold overseas via the Silk Road on land or the Porcelain Road on sea,winning worldwide fame.

“Jingdezhen has a long history of porcelain making,consummate porcelain making skills and an enchanting porcelain culture. I hope more people will get to know and like Jingdezhen’s porcelain.” As a creative and farsighted new-generation porcelain master in Jingdezhen,Xu Shenggu is committed to promoting the communication between Chinese and foreign cultures and introducing porcelain culture to the world.

In 2006,Xu Shenggu’s work

Watching

won the gold medal in the appraisal of artistic porcelain at the China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair. The work portrays two monkeys,one big and one small,which snuggle up to each other in an old tree covered with vines in a season of falling leaves. The clear eyes are very impressive. The whole set of works highlights the creation of atmosphere and artistic conception,and reflects the beauty expressed by the language of unique porcelain art.

This work was designated as the exclusive official gift by the organizers at the 2nd Hainan Island International Film Festival in December 2019,attracting worldwide attention once again.

“The designation of

Watching

as the exclusive gift of the film festival reflects not only the recognition of Xu’s personal ability,but also the credit given to Jingdezhen’s porcelain.” The works of an artist are always his most important business card. Xu Shenggu hopes this film festival will serve as a bridge for cultural exchanges between Jingdezhen and the world and further extend the influence of Jingdezhen’s porcelain ware.

Flowers and applause came in quick succession. Xu Shenggu was quiet in the face of all these honors. In his view,porcelain painting is a fine craft that requires quietness and loneliness. To make the eyes of animals more lifelike and the posture of flowers and plants more beautiful,he often spends a whole day working at it. Observation is also an important source of inspiration for him. Sometimes,he will take simple tools to sketch outdoors and absorb the nutrients of nature into his creations.

Xu Shenggu’s skills have stood the test of time and become more consummate.

Inheritance

Xu Shenggu’s works revolve around the themes of “ecology” and “nature.” Some series follow the theme of environmental protection.

Xu Shenggu was deep in thought when asked why he chose the theme of environmental protection in his creations. “For craftsmen engaged in porcelain painting,different themes convey different messages. I hope my works can express my thoughts and the beauty of life.”

Xu Shenggu recalls that his childhood in rural Jiangxi was a pleasant and leisurely period. However,the longer his urban life,the less he came into contact with natural and pristine objects. This realization prompted him to integrate the concept of environmental protection into the creation of porcelain art.

To draw animals and the natural scenery satisfactorily,Xu Shenggu traveled all over the country in search of animals like the Tibetan antelope,the cheetah and the gnu as well as scenery like deserts,forests and grasslands.

His porcelain art work

Yearning

depicts a pair of cheetahs squatting on a hill top and gazing into the distance solemnly. At their feet are a piece of desertified land and some withered hay,which drop a hint that this land was once lush. His

Polar Bear

depicts a helpless polar bear standing on the only remaining ice block. These works,which either depict the desertification of land or follow global warming,all have a common appeal—protect nature and the environment.

Xu Shenggu won the recognition of more and more people as his skills improved,and his works came into spotlight. Popularizing porcelain art,promoting the public welfare and inheriting porcelain culture are now his new focal points. Xu Shenggu will put down his brush and walk up to the platform to talk about the history,skills and culture of Jingdezhen’s porcelain and discuss the true value of porcelain art with young people whenever he has time.

后記

2018年9月，一列裝載景德鎮(zhèn)陶瓷的集裝箱貨物列車從江西省景德鎮(zhèn)市緩緩啟程，開往莫斯科。這是“千年瓷都”景德鎮(zhèn)開出的第一趟中歐班列，也是景德鎮(zhèn)瓷器第一次搭乘中歐班列“出國”，輝煌千年的瓷都景德鎮(zhèn)在歷史長河中翻開嶄新的一頁。

2019年10月，《景德鎮(zhèn)國家陶瓷文化傳承創(chuàng)新試驗區(qū)實施方案》落地實施，總投資1035億元。這一國家戰(zhàn)略給古老的景德鎮(zhèn)帶來了新機(jī)遇，瓷都再次展現(xiàn)出了巨大的發(fā)展?jié)撃堋?/p>

2021年伊始，一場名為“白色金子·東西瓷都——從景德鎮(zhèn)到梅森瓷器大展”在江西省博物館拉開序幕，本次展覽以瓷器為線索，講述了中西文化的交流、碰撞與融合，開啟了一段獨特的“陶瓷之旅”，受到廣泛關(guān)注。

……

從漢唐到現(xiàn)在，千百年來景德鎮(zhèn)薪火不斷。我們有理由相信，正是有一代代像徐勝谷一樣的陶瓷從業(yè)者不懈堅守，勠力創(chuàng)新，景德鎮(zhèn)才能站在時代的風(fēng)口引領(lǐng)風(fēng)尚潮流，成就“中華向號瓷之國，瓷業(yè)高峰是此都”的傳奇。