China’s Ancient Blind Box: The Story of Mi-se Porcelain | Michelle Jialin Cen | TEDxYuehai St Studio
What do blind boxes and ancient porcelain have in common?
Michelle explores the parallels between China’s Mi-se porcelain—a thousand-year-old “secret-color” art—and modern collectible trends like blind boxes.
In her talk, she shares how blending tradition with contemporary culture can bring ancient craftsmanship back into daily life. Michelle Jialin Cen is a cultural innovator dedicated to reviving Mi-se porcelain—China’s ancient "secret-color" celadon—by integrating this timeless art form into modern life. She is also an independent designer specializing in enamel jewelry, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics.
Beyond her work in cultural heritage, Michelle is also an advocate for environmental policy, drawing on her research in environmental economics. She has held key leadership roles in organizations such as the Harvard BPC Operation Department (Southern China Division), which promotes business education for Chinese youth, and has consistently demonstrated a passion for bridging tradition and innovation. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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