Canton Fair "Chinese Porcelain" meets AI, traditional handicrafts become trendy hot items

China News Service, Guangzhou, October 27 (Reporter Cheng Jingwei and Zhang Lu) On Hailing Island in Yangjiang, Guangdong, the ancient Southern Song Dynasty sunken ship "Nanhai No. 1" has been exported and sold about 160,000 pieces of porcelain, becoming a witness to the world of ancient Chinese porcelain marketing. Hundreds of kilometers away, the 140th Canton Fair is being held in Guangzhou, where China's latest porcelain meets global buyers.

The export of Chinese porcelain began in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. This Oriental luxury product in the eyes of Westerners plays an important role in the integration and mutual learning of Eastern and Western civilizations.

Time has passed for thousands of years, and today, Chinese porcelain at the Canton Fair is embracing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D printing, integrating creative design and intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship, and riding the waves in the changing times.

Chaozhou, Guangdong is the "Porcelain Capital of China" with a long history of porcelain making. At this Canton Fair, a large number of Chaozhou ceramic companies participated. At the booth of Chaozhou Haihong Ceramics Manufacturing Co., Ltd., about 6,000 pieces (sets) of ceramic tableware are displayed everywhere. "We are now using AI technology to analyze the patterns, patterns, and color combinations of porcelain that sell well overseas, and generate corresponding design drawings, and then use smart equipment to perform inkjet operations." Zhang Zanrong, director of the company's office, told China News Service.

Zhang Zanrong said that AI will capture global trend elements and achieve differentiated pattern designs, making many porcelain products popular. For example, for the European and American markets, the main style is "fresh and fresh", incorporating elements such as flowers, grass, and countryside; for the Middle East and other regions, it is often paired with elements such as crescent moon and leopard print. "AI technology has improved the efficiency of porcelain research and development, and also allowed products to more accurately meet the needs of consumers in different countries."

Chaozhou is using AI as a link between intangible cultural heritage porcelain art and modern creativity, using digital technology to reconstruct the ceramic design system. The local system systematically organizes data resources such as intangible cultural heritage skills, historical and cultural elements, and classic patterns and shapes to build an AI design material library; encourages the popularization of generative AI design tools, supports the development of exclusive intelligent design software for the ceramic industry, and opens up a complete chain of "AI + design + achievement transformation".

Dehua porcelain in Fujian is famous for its "Chinese White", and many ancient porcelains on the "Nanhai No. 1" have been confirmed to come from Dehua kilns. At the booth of Shunmei Group from Dehua County, Mexican buyer Grupogama placed an order for a variety of ceramic products made with 3D technology. "Chinese ceramics have beautiful appearance, excellent quality and reasonable price. They are exactly the products I need."

Zheng Pengfei, general manager of Shunmei Group, said that the company's special-shaped ceramics have greatly improved the precision of finished products through AI-assisted design, 3D modeling and 3D printing technology. The prototype cycle has been reduced from weeks to hours, and development costs have been reduced by 60% compared with before.