Heritage show in Beijing celebrates continuity of culture

Nearly 200 exhibits from about 50 masters representing more than 40 Chinese intangible cultural heritage projects were showcased at Beijing's landmark National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, from May 27 to 31.

The exhibition was part of a series of programs to celebrate the 12th China Cultural Heritage Day, which falls on the second Saturday of June.

One of the highlights of the show was mahogany furniture in the style of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, imitating traditional Chinese living rooms, studies, tearooms and temples, as the organizers wanted to integrate heritage items with the context of traditional lifestyles.

During the exhibition, cultural heritage scholars, investors and executives from cultural companies attended seminars to share their views on the passing on, protection, trading, industrialization and innovation of intangible cultural heritage items.

Fan Li, deputy chairman of the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association, said at the event that intangible cultural heritage items are a nation's "most essential things". "Protection of a nation's intangible cultural heritage has a direct bearing on the continuity of a nation's culture," he said.

Wu Yuanxin, an inheritor of the Nantong blue calico printing and dyeing technique, a national intangible cultural heritage project, said heritage must stay close to people's lives to be well protected.

He added that many young people would like to learn the traditional skills. "My daughter, my son-in-law and I designed the works I brought to the exhibition together."

The exhibition's organizers also invited members of Bonjour ID, an organization that facilitates exchanges between Chinese and French designers, to discuss the development of innovative products by linking international designs and Chinese culture.

(China Daily 06/08/2017 page17)