Craftsmanship shows Beijing style
An exhibition of the city's eight imperial handicrafts demonstrates rich artisanal tradition, Chen Nan reports.
"Through meticulous craftsmanship and artistic innovation, these crafts continue to enrich our understanding of China's cultural heritage and artistic traditions," he adds.
Bai Qun's Eight Treasures of Prosperity Ruyi Decorative Plate, a piece decorated with dragons, sunflowers and ruyi (an auspicious totem, which has an S-shaped handle and a head resembling a lingzhi mushroom) is among the artworks selected for the exhibition.
Bi Hong, an artisan of the form of embroidery known as jingxiu, also has a piece on display at the exhibition. The long blue embroidered gown with loose sleeves and a green skirt took four years to finish.
"The outfit was inspired by a Qing Dynasty outfit displaying at the Palace Museum in Beijing. I rooted my work in the traditional jingxiu technique, which is known for its bright colors and vivid imagery, mostly symbolizing royalty," Bi says.
