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REGIONAL> Development
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Gold foil and gold thread artworks contest kicks off
By Song Wenwei (China Daily Jiangsu Bureau)
Updated: 2009-06-25 14:31 Nanjing: The designing contest for gold foil and gold thread artworks was launched in Nanjing, capital city of East China's Jiangsu Province on June 25.
"We hold the contest to promote the creation of more exquisite artistic works and the development of gold foil industry," said Zhu Jingsong, head of publicity department of Qixia District in Nanjing, at a press conference. China boasts nearly 2,000 years of history in turning gold into foil as thin as the wings of a cicada. Nanjing is the home of gold foil in China and the largest gold foil producer in the world. Figures show that Nanjing produces 60 percent of the gold foil for the global market. Gold foil has been widely used for decorating royal palaces, temples and gilding statues of Buddha. As the industry develops, gold foil is now used widely in different areas. Beside exquisite artwork, interior decoration materials such as tile, mosaics and wallpaper can all be made from gold foil. It is also an ingredient in skincare products and Chinese liquor.
An industrial park was set up a few years ago to provide better facilities and services for the enterprises to grow in Qixia district, where a complex of gold foil factories is located "The concentration of factories has yielded good results in technology innovation and increase of revenue," said Zhu. Statistics show that the 86 factories in the district yield an annual revenue of over 200 million yuan (US$70 million). The contest also aims to upgrade the industry by eliciting creative thinking in the use of the material for more purposes. The contest is organized by China Industrial Designing Association, China Craft and Art Association and Qixia District Government. It will last for four months until the end of September when the winners will be announced. |
