Bridging Dutch Design & Chinese Craftsmanship
Design and art overlap, but their starting points differ. While artists embrace experimentation, designers work purposefully towards an envisioned result. During a working period in Jingdezhen – the historic porcelain capital of China – Jos Kranen and Johannes Gille discovered that bringing these worlds together creates a creative moiré effect: a dynamic interplay where new ideas emerge.
With this project, five Dutch designers travel to Jingdezhen. In collaboration with the Taoxichuan Art Center, they will develop objects that merge Dutch design with Chinese craftsmanship. The aim is a market-ready collection to be launched under the Taoxichuan name. Jos Kranen and Johannes Gille act as initiators and art directors, with the ambition to continue this partnership in the long term. The project is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Beijing and the City of ’s-Hertogenbosch.
Designers
Participating Designers are Kranen/Gille, Inge Simonis, Lenneke Wispelwey and Remy van Zandbergen. They prepare their concepts in the Netherlands and bring them to Jingdezhen, where they gain access to unparalleled expertise in glazes, molds, and decorations. The encounter between contemporary Dutch design practices and centuries-old ceramic traditions leads to outcomes greater than the sum of their parts.
Relevance
The Netherlands – and especially North Brabant – plays a leading role in the global design field. By engaging with Jingdezhen, they strengthen Den Bosch’s position as a ceramics city and creative hub. The project will culminate in several exhibitions in the Netherlands and an international presentation during Milan Design Week (April 2026).
Side Activities
In addition to the residency, several side projects have been initiated:
- The Embassy of the Future – project with the Dutch Embassy in Beijing, presentation October 10, 2025
- Guest Lecture at Xi’an Liverpool University by Kranen/Gille (September 24, 2025)
- Lecture at Taoxichuan Art Center (Lenneke Wispelwey and Inge Simonis)
- Group Presentation at Jingdezhen Ceramic University (to be confirmed)
- Participation in Matter: Bound Energy – exhibition at Taoxichuan Art Museum, curated by Feng Boyi (Kranen/Gille)
About Taoxichuan Art Center
Taoxichuan is a leading center for art, design, and education in Jingdezhen. Covering 50,000 m² of studios, museums, and residency programs, it provides a platform where traditional crafts are integrated with contemporary design and international exchange.
