An art exhibition showcasing the vibrant development of Chinese handicrafts is opened at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa on Nov 29. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
To help promote Chinese culture to the world, an art exhibition showcasing the vibrant development of Chinese handicrafts was opened at the University Of Johannesburg, South Africa on Nov 29.
Themed "Floral Seas", the event hosted by Shanghai University and the University of Johannesburg features dozens of intangible cultural heritage crafts by inheritors and some faculty and students from the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts. The exhibits include three national-level projects and five provincial-level ones.
A highlighted exhibit at the exhibition that will run through late January 2025 is the first Chinese embroidery piece to have traveled into space. It is a piece of artwork from the "training program for Chinese intangible cultural heritage inheritors (embroidery workshop)" hosted by the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts and the Shanghai Public Art Coordination Center.
The exhibition is divided into three sections: "Floral Seas", "Symbiosis of All Beings", and "Everlasting Life", and features traditional Chinese cultural items, such as embroidery, paper cutting, kites, New Year paintings, silver pots, and purple clay teapots.
An art exhibition showcasing the vibrant development of Chinese handicrafts is opened at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa on Nov 29. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Exhibits also include those that combine traditional intangible cultural heritage with new elements, such as creative cultural products based on traditional Shanxi-style fabric tigers and heritage-inspired canvas shoes.
Duan Yong, deputy Party secretary of Shanghai University, said at the opening ceremony that by displaying Chinese intangible cultural heritage and handicrafts, this exhibition aimed to foster mutual learning and understanding between civilizations.
"Universities carry the responsibility to provide platforms for the protection and international communication of intangible cultural heritage. Also, I hope that this exhibition will deepen our cooperation with the University of Johannesburg, creating more practical opportunities for young students, and injecting new vitality into cultural exchanges between China and South Africa," he said.
Federico Freschi, executive dean of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Johannesburg, said that cultural heritage is not static, but vibrant and continuously evolving instead. He expressed his hope that the exhibits on display would provide inspiration for visitors to further explore their cultural traditions and embrace the boundless possibilities brought by collaboration and innovation.
The exhibition is scheduled to tour other destinations, including Kazakhstan, Sweden, Turkiye, New Zealand, Australia, France, and Italy, to allow Chinese art to be seen more by the world and celebrate the beauty culture in diversity.
