Known for his skillful Chinkin technique, urushi lacquer artist Xu Jin is an inheritor of cultural heritage in Huangpu District. Together with jade carving artist Zhu Xiwei from Yangpu District, he has created a series of carved lacquer artworks. Recently, the two participated in a workshop on innovative design of Shanghai's traditional techniques that was held in Shanghai.

(Carved lacquer artworks by Xu Jin and Zhu Xiwei)

The workshop provided inheritors of intangible cultural techniques withan opportunity to work in pairs or groups to create new designs.Hailing from different districts across Shanghai, the participants showcased 30 types of different traditional techniques in total.

(A group photo of the participating artists)

(Chinkin)

(Jade carving)

(Kesi weaving)

Zhou Xufei and Pan Xiangyang are respectively skilled at colored glaze firing and purple clay sculpture. After some discussion and exchanges of views, they decided to create a piece of installation art, featuring mountains and the sun.

(Artists discuss creating crossover artworks)

Zhuang Danxing from Jinshan District is an inheritor of Shanghai’s steamed rice cake making. He made a basket of Bai Long Gao (White Dragon Rice Cake), whose smell and flavor attracted many people. As Zhuang said, Bai Long Gao is named after a legendary small white dragon that safeguarded local people. Based on the cake’s unique historical and cultural features, two designers in the workshop created a modern package design for Bai Long Gao. After that, Zhuang worked with other crafts people skilled in Shanghai woolen embroidery, treasure inlay, and tie-dye, to create a Shanghai-style afternoon life scene.

(A slow-pace life scene featuring Bai Long Gao, treasure inlay, tie-dyeand some other traditional techniques)

As the country pays more attention to intangible cultural heritage protection, the threshold of application for such projects has become higher, while more artists are taking on their responsibilities to carry forward traditional techniques. Hong Youjin from Chongming District has been working hard to popularize grain painting. According to the artist, he has invented a new way for the general public, especially kids and students, to experience the art by painting on an acrylic panel over a piece of paper with sketched silhouettes.

(Grain painting)

The workshop in Shanghai was held by the Public Art Coordination Center (PACC) and the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts of Shanghai University, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. After graduation, participants of the workshop will display their new designs through an exhibition in Shanghai.