header
|
|
MENU
|
|
JIESHOU EMBROIDERY
23 / 12
~ 04 / 01
2008
2009
Jieshou embroidery (from the
city of Jieshou in Anhui province) belongs to the
flat-stitch category of folk embroidery and is
characterised by red, green and purple colours. It
sometimes employs purl thread combined with silk or
satin in colours including yellow, red and green. Metal
flakes and gold fringing are often used to render the
embroidered item even more delicate and refined.
Having
developed a fondness for embroidery in childhood, Liu
Lanying soon revealed a strong natural talent, and her
artistry came to be prized in a class of its own. Her
embroidered items have won awards of excellence at the
National Folk Craft Exhibition, and in 2006 she was
recognised as the Outstanding Folk Art Transmitter of
the City of Fuyang. |
|
|
|
WUHU IRON ART
23 / 12
~ 04 / 01
2008
2009
Wuhu iron art constitutes a
unique Chinese craft with a long history. Using hammer as calligraphy brush,
iron as ink and anvil as paper, the artisan’s uncanny craftsmanship brings forth
works of astounding charm and grace, as wrought iron is transformed into a
painting. At its zenith, iron art was renowned far and wide
for its unique nature and exquisite craftsmanship.
A fifth generation master of Wuhu
iron art, Chu Jinxia had six of his major works included in the Iron Art
Exhibition in the Anhui Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, among
them The Welcoming Pine and Meishan Mountain Reservoir. He has also been awarded
the title Outstanding Transmitter of Chinese Folk Culture. |
|
|
|
PAPER CUTTING
06
~ 18 / 01
2009
Paper cutting is one of China’s
most prevalent and ancient folk arts, with a history that can be traced back to
at least the 6th century. Paper cutting is frequently used in
religious ceremonies and for decoration, particularly during Chinese New Year
and other festivals. People in the countryside affix paper-cuttings to walls,
doors, windows and other places to attract good fortune and happiness.
Wang Binghua has loved drawing
and crafts since childhood. Her works blend the rugged, simple honesty of
Northern Chinese paper cutting with the delicate beauty of the art’s southern
form, giving rise to a unique artistic style combining Huanghai Plain and modern
paper cutting techniques. |
|
|
|
PHOENIX PAINTING
06 ~ 18
/ 01
2009
Phoenix painting, as its name
implies, involves drawing or painting the phoenix, a symbol of good luck, to
solicit a blessed life. In this style of depiction, the typical colours of folk
art are used while coloured lines and other techniques are assimilated from the
kung pi – or ‘fine brushwork’ tradition – of classical bird painting. The
resulting art form appeals to both refined and popular tastes.
During his 27-year study of
phoenix painting, Zhang Weiwu has been the recipient of first-hand knowledge
passed on to him by several renowned phoenix artists. His organic combination of
phoenix painting with Chinese traditional painting has caused the folk culture
to pulsate with new vitality. In 2006, his Rise of the Phoenix was included in
the National Exhibition of Works of Intangible Cultural Heritage. |
|
|
|
HUIZHOU INK
20
/ 01 ~ 01
/ 02
2009
China was the first country in
the world to produce carbon ink, and present-day Huizhou ink is renowned for its
excellent quality. Taking the form of ink sticks, Huizhou ink is produced and
then sculpted through a traditional method that was included in the first
inventory of intangible cultural heritage. This craft imparts to ink – one of
the four treasures of the writing table – added aesthetic beauty and collectible
value.
Xiang Desheng, currently Vice
Chairman of the China National Artists Association, has been a lover of art
since childhood. He has created many works, and his ink sticks are particularly
unique among them. In 1995, he was jointly awarded the title of National Folk
and Crafts Artist by UNESCO and the China Folk Artists Association. |
|
|
|
CALLIGRAPHY BRUSH MAKING
20
/ 01
~ 01 / 02
2009
The making of calligraphy brushes
employs the ‘layered method’, a method of brush making passed down through the
generations that positions short interior bristles within long exterior
bristles. The artistic charm of traditional calligraphy lies in the way the
brushstrokes, traced on paper, express the beauty of variation between strong
and soft lines and the unique aesthetic characteristics of the various forms of
Chinese characters. It is a simple yet powerful charm.
Zhang Xiuyao began learning the
art of calligraphy brush making at the age of fifteen. His work emphasises the
combination of tradition and innovation. In 1977, he and his father established
the Lintan Brush Workshop. Now renowned throughout China, the workshop also
produces brushes for clients in the United States, South Korea, Japan and
Southeast Asia. Zhang’s brush The Nine Dragons Playing in Ink won the 1995
National Patent and High-Tech Products Gold Prize. |
|
|
|
INKSTONE CARVING
03 ~ 15 /
02
2009
Inkstone carving refers to the
sculptural ornamentation of the platform used to hold ink when practising
calligraphy. The value of each inkstone is reflected in its originality and the
quality of the material from which it is made. There are many varieties of
inkstones. According to the material used, they can be roughly categorised into
five types: lacquer, metal, ceramic, jade and stone.
Anhui inkstone-carving artist Li
Tianxi brings unique views and understanding to his She inkstones. This highly
prized category is named after Shezhou County, the district in Anhui province
from which inkstones originate. Li has won several art awards including the
provincial culture association’s first award for folk art creations. His works
are treasured and eagerly sought after by collectors and artists in China and
abroad. |
|
|
|
BAMBOO SCULPTURE
03 ~ 15 / 02
2009
The bamboo carving of Huizhou, in
Anhui province, is an important component of China’s bamboo carving arts. In
general, it can be separated into surface engraving and three-dimensional
sculpture. Common items carved from bamboo include incense holders, brush
holders, armrests and fans. The handiwork, delicate and refined, follows a
distinctive course all its own in the history of Chinese craft art.
Ye Dingyue has engaged in bamboo
sculpture for 20 years. His craftsmanship accentuates innovation, using the
knife to convey emotion and flowing lines. People on a Small Bridge Over Water,
Maxims by Zhu Zi and others of his works have been selected as souvenirs for UN
officials. |
|
|
|
MINIATURE SCULPTURE
17 / 02 ~ 01 / 03
2009
Miniature sculpture is a unique
art in which the knife replaces the brush and for which perfectly minute detail
is mandatory. While carving, the naked eye cannot see the object, and the artist
relies on sensation and instinct to move the knife. For this reason, the art is
also sometimes referred to as ‘carving with the spirit and sculpting with the
mind’. Miniature sculptures combine the arts of calligraphy and painting.
Yang Qipeng began learning the
art of miniature sculpture in his youth, under his father, Yang Dake. Yang
Qipeng’s miniature carvings are exquisitely skilful and much sought after in
China and abroad. Some of his works hold Guinness world records.
Yang Yang is the third generation
of miniature sculpture artists in her family. Her works are unique in style. She
is the youngest female currently engaged in miniature art. |
|
|
|
COLLAGE
17 / 02 ~ 01 / 03
2009
Collage paintings are produced
entirely with the hands. Beautiful in form, exquisite in craftsmanship and
distinctive in style, they stand out among present-day craft works. In addition
to being intended for artistic appreciation, collage works make excellent gifts
for friends and family, ceremonial events or social exchanges. They also make
excellent travel souvenirs.
Collage artist Chen Min has
explored and studied collage for over thirty years. His works have been
published in more than thirty publications in China and abroad. In 2002, he was
granted the title Outstanding Expert and Scholar of National Cultural Science. |
|
|
|
CLAY SCULPTURE
03 ~
15 /
03
2009
In China, clay sculpture is a
widely visible folk art which dates back to ancient times. Using clay as the
primary material, the sculptor gives the objects form through kneading, leaving
the surface plain or adorning it with colourful paint. The depicted subjects are
usually animals or the human form. From the Neolithic Age, Chinese clay art has
experienced unbroken development and by the Han Dynasty was already an important
art form.
Li Haohua has been passionate
about painting and clay sculpture since childhood. He sculpts frogs, and his
infinitely varied works are almost lifelike in appearance. It is said that
‘frogs call out to Li’. His works have been exhibited on several occasions both
in and outside China and have been featured in several publications. He has also
published scholarly papers on the plastic arts. |
|
|
|
PAPER CUTTING
03 ~
15 /
03
2009
Paper cutting art is often
monochromatic and employs a vast array of techniques in which the relationship
of black to white and convex to concave varies. According to which aspect is
prominent and which is secondary, works can be categorised as ‘paper-cut in
relief’, ’paper-cut in intaglio’ or ‘mixed paper-cut’. Subject matter varies
greatly, with folk culture and folk customs prominent.
In Chinese paper cutting, it was
Zhang Xiuzhen who created ‘mood paper cutting’. This opened the door for the
combination of traditional paper cutting with painting and sculpture. Her works
have garnered outstanding honours, and she is sometimes known by the nickname
‘Skilful Chinese Woman’. |
|
|
BACK
|
|
|