摘要："I sold everything... I was all in. I put in all my chips." With this leap of faith, American ceramic artistMichael Mayleft behind
Trending in China
"I sold everything... I was all in. I put in all my chips." With this leap of faith, American ceramic artist Michael May left behind his life in the United States and arrived in Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital, a year and a half ago. Having traveled to nearly 20 countries, the seasoned artist ultimately chose Jingdezhen as his creative base.
In the latest episode of "Trending in China", Michael shares his unique journey from Oklahoma City to Jingdezhen with host Yolanda Lu and co-host Belinda Chen. With a background in traditional techniques and a passion for innovation, he now blends 3D printing technology with traditional pottery, creating works that marry form with function.
He delves into the city's collaborative spirit, learning from master craftsmen who spend lifetimes perfecting their art, and finding his tribe among the growing community of "Yang Jing Piao" (foreign expats living in Jingdezhen). Michael explains why this relentless pursuit of craftsmanship drives him to become better and why he believes "this is so far the best and the smartest place for a potter to be."
“我卖掉了所有家当，孤注一掷来到景德镇。”凭着这份决心，美国陶瓷艺术家迈克尔・梅（Michael May）在一年半前离开家乡，选择在中国"瓷都"景德镇落脚。这位曾走遍近20个国家的艺术家，最终在这座以陶瓷闻名的城市找到了归宿。
在本期《潮动中国》节目中，迈克尔向主播Yolanda Lu和Belinda Chen讲述了他从俄克拉何马城到景德镇的特别经历。凭借扎实的传统陶艺功底和创新热情，他将3D打印技术与手工陶艺完美结合，创作出既实用又美观的作品。
他沉浸于这座城市独特的协作氛围，向那些用一生磨练技艺的老匠人学习，并在日益壮大的"洋景漂"群体中找到了归属感。迈克尔还谈到，这种对技艺的执着追求如何不断推动他突破自我。“对陶艺家来说，这里就是最好、最理想的地方。”他说。
Highlights:
00:03:03 - Michael's journey from Oklahoma to Jingdezhen
00:04:12 - First impressions of the city and its pottery culture
00:07:10 - Traveled to nearly 20 countries before settling here
00:10:07 - Contrasts convenience in Asian cities vs. American life
00:11:21 - How ceramics connect people across the globe
00:14:00 - Jingdezhen: a small city with a growing "Yang Jing Piao" community
00:15:25 - Reflections on whether Jingdezhen feels like home
00:19:40 - The paradox of Jingdezhen: small city yet international hub
00:29:16 - Why Jingdezhen is ideal for pottery business
00:34:23 - Learning traditional techniques from local masters
00:40:00 - Initially thought clay 3D printing was "the dumbest"
00:42:01 - Decided to go "100% in" on clay printing
00:47:05 - Using his foreign identity as a marketing advantage
00:51:50 - How Chinese craftsmanship continues to amaze him
01:01:18 - Describes Jingdezhen as "happy, beautiful, and old"
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来源：炜衡刑辩圈
