Brocade works show artistic creativity

At the heart of this transformation are ongoing breakthroughs in interweaving warp and weft threads. In the past, brocade patterns were woven with colored warp and weft threads, but limitations in the weaving process restricted the palette to no more than a dozen colors.

Today, with advanced digital technology, more than 4,500 colors can be reproduced in brocade, allowing silk threads to capture subtler variations in hue, light and shadow and opening up new possibilities for artistic expression.

According to Li, brocade can now reach a warp density of 113 threads per centimeter and a weft density of 205 threads per centimeter, with more than 300 warp and weft threads in each sq cm of fabric.

Meanwhile, digital platforms are helping preserve, document and share traditional patterns and techniques more systematically. Generative artificial intelligence is also giving designers greater freedom to explore new themes and forms of expression.

One abstract piece caught the attention of visitor Tao Xiaodong. It uses weaving structures of varying densities and thread types to create a naturally textured, three-dimensional surface. "It could be a rock, bubbles or anything you imagine," Tao said while discussing the piece with a friend. For him, that openness to interpretation is part of its appeal, showing how brocade can move beyond traditional motifs and take on a freer, more contemporary form.

Li said the evolution of brocade craftsmanship has always gone hand in hand with advances in tools, technology and materials, much like a relay carried forward through the generations.

"The history of brocade offers a glimpse into the development of human civilization," he said. "What we are doing today is taking our turn in that relay."

XINHUA