Chinese painter introduction, Mr.Jin Shangyi

Mr.Jin Shangyi, the famous painter in China, who was born in Jiaozuo county, Henan province in 1934. He studied at Beiping National Arts College in 1949 and was taught by professor Sun Zhongwei, Li zhongzhe, Dong Xiwen, Wu Zuoren etc. He was majoring in sketch, line-drawing and watercolor. After his graduated work finished in 1952, he continued to stay at college for the master degree of Oil painting. In 1955, he paticipated in the training class held by Ma (Russia painter). 

Artist profile: Mr. Yang Ruihua

Mr. Yang Ruihua, whose nickname is "eagle-king", was born in Shiwan in 1956. He brings the calligraphy into the ceramic works and created the "Huahong(China red) Glaze"and "Chamo(Tea foam) Glaze". He has been awarded at fourth in Shenzhen Cultural Industry Fair.

Artist profile: Mr. Ling Kangqiang

Mr. Ling Kangqiang, born in Shiwan county of Foshan City in 1977. Since 2004, his works had awarded from many art events held by regions of China, and most of the works were collected by museums from provinces and cities of China.

Artist profile: Mr. Pan Bolin

Mr. Pan Bolin

Representative works, <<Huan Feihong>>,Kongfu Master

Representative works, <<Back to wife's home>>

Mr. Pan Bolin, the Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts as well as the Master of Chinese Ceramic Arts, who was born in Shiwan where was the well-known ceramic city. He was graduated from the Central Arts and Crafts College in 1985 and later studied at Guangzhou Arts College. From year to year, Mr. Pan had been gradually forming his own style on crafts, whose works reflecting the daily life among people and being popular.

Chinese artist profile: Mr.Cai Qianlong

Mr.Cai Qianlong, the Shiwan Clay Figure Master

Made by Cai Qianlong

Made by Cai Qianlong

Mr.Cai Qianlong, who was born in Zhang Jia Jie,Hunan province. He has been learned for the sculpture skills since he went to Foshan in 1994. He is familar with the process of ceramic production which from raw material clay to a finished product. From 1996 to 2002, he has always been followed the famous ceramic master Mr.Liu Legui to learn the technique of making clay figure and initiated the Qiankun Ceramic Workshop in 2003.

Chinese artist profile: Feng Weimin

Mr.Feng Weimin,the nationwide ceramic master in China

Famous works by Feng Weimin, Spring-wind and Moon-flower

Famous works by Feng Weimin,Conquer the world

Artist profile:
Feng Weimin, who was born in 1964, live in ShiWan county, Foshan City, China. Since 1979, he has gone in for the work of ceramic sculpture painting and started in 1990. He has also taken the addictional course at Guangzhou Arts College in 1992 and to initiate the TaoTao workshop in 1996.  In 2000, he was invited to attend the "Nan Feng Gu Zao"  research project and the first China(Foshan) International contemporary ceramic research conference in 2002. In the same year, the Hong Zhi Tao art ceramic manufactory was launched by him. His artworks were exhibited in Taiwan in 2004, who was entitled the Art Master of Guangdong on 28th.Mar.2005, he was also appointed as the Deputy Secretary General of Foshan contemporary arts ceramic Association in 2006 and as the chief researcher of Guangdong Berlin Ceramic Sculpture Institute. On 10th. Nov. of 2010, he was entitiled Ceramic Master of 2nd China Ceramic Arts. 

Cantonese opera

The 28th day of the ninth lunar month is the birthday of the opera god Huaguang. There is a tradition in the Cantonese Opera industry to offer sacrifices to this musical deity. This picture shows the Foshan Cantonese Opera Troupe worshipping their divine rhythmic idol.

The number of applied instruments reached more than 40, and even Western musical instruments such as saxophones and violins were incorporated to enrich the sound.

This vintage aesthetic was applied with intricate steps. First, the hair was bound up snugly with a piece of cloth, tightening the face skin. Then the performers applied white foundation, dabbed dark symmetrical lines across their cheekbones and etched a myriad of other vibrant colors across their visage canvas.

In the early Qing Dynasty, the Waijiang Troupe introduced the Yiyang and Kunshan pitches to Guangdong. During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (an oppositional state in China from 1851 to 1864),the local troupes sprouted, but the vocal was still based on the Bangzi pitch. Later, with the decline of the Kunqu Opera and the influence of the Hui Opera troupes, the Cantonese Opera accepted Xipi and Erhuang as the main pitches. During the Revolution of 1911, the "Patriots Troupe" reformed the Cantonese Opera by changing its language from Mandarin Chinese to Cantonese or the so-called New Vocal. During the War of Anti-Japanese Aggression (1937-1945), there were many artists who studied the Cantonese Opera intensively and developed their own vocal styles. Striking examples included Xue Juexian’s "Xue-style", Ma Shizeng's "Ma-style", and Hong Xiannu's "Hong-style". As Cantonese has nine tones, it makes the Cantonese Opera more melodious and elegant.

The early-period Cantonese Opera costumes mainly imitated the Ming- and Qing-style clothing. During the Qing Dynasty the Peking Opera became more and more popular, heavily influencing the Cantonese genre's costumes. It is described in the Brief History of Guangdong Operas that "The Gu-style embroidery is widely loved by the Guangdong people. The noble golden color is widely used to make the costumes splendid and bright. They are better than those made in Beijing and Shanghai. Since the European and American plastic sequin was introduced in China, the costumes have become as shiny as mirrors." Bythe end of the 1960s the embroidered opera costumes became main stream in the genre, and they remain popular even today.

A red stamp sold at 782 hundred thousand

a red scenery of whole nation, designed in 1896, non-issue, 3 cent par value

The 27th Asia Stamp Exhibition was held at the third day, the organizer arranged a series of activities for this event, which including stamp first-issue, auctions, stamps design and display, art performance and so on. A stamp auction was the highlight yesterday, approximate one thousand fine works were bid from 9:00am through 8:00pm, hundreds of people attend this auction and the deal accumulate over 13 million.

Chinese American painter Cui Ruzuo

Cui Ruzuo, a Chinese American, who was also a famous painter, connoisseur and collector. He was born in Beijing in 1944, and settled in America in 1981. 

 
His artwork <Nong Xia Tu> was collected by America ex-president Reagon in 1983.
His artwork <Wan Feng> was collected by the Chairman of America International Cooperation Committee Ms. Chen Xiangmei in 1983.

Traditional Chinese arts Fish Skin Clothes

Fish skin clothes

Fish skin pants

Hezhe women's dress

These shoes made from fish skin

With a history of over 2,000 years, the fish skin technique of Hezhe groups has become a unique charm in traditional Chinese arts. In June, 2006, it had been listed among the first batch of national non-material cultural heritage.

Hezhe peoples is one of the minority groups of China, dwelling in the river basins of Hei Long Jiang River, Songhua River and Wusuli River. During their social evolution, they have left a glorious history and splendid culture, which is rich and unique, enjoying a great fame for their fish skin arts.

In another history book of Qing Dynasty, it said: the fish skin minority groups live on fish, eating no rice, and wear clothes made from fish skin, which are as warm as cow hide. The fish skin minority groups here refer to the offspring of Nvzhen, namely, the Haozhe. The lifestyle of the Hezhe overthrows the tradition of their ancestors, especially in terms of clothing. People in Russia, Japan and Northern Europe also the tradition of wearing clothes made from fish skin, but the fish skin culture of Hezhe is the richest and most typical. It is the only minority group that reserves their fish skin techniques to the present day. In the eights volume of a history book that kept the records of contributions from tributaries to the Qing Dynasty, it said that "People of Hezhe all wear clothes made from deer hide and fish skin". At present, the tradition to wear clothes made from fish skin has become a long-forgotten memory, but the fish skin artworks of Hezhe is fast becoming a rising industry, which is very popular in the international market.

Putian Woodcarving A Hundred Birds Worshipping the Phoenix

Artist: Li Fengqiang (Senior Arts and Crafts Artist)
Size: 116cm x 55cm x46cm

Material: Sandalwood
Awards: Gold Award of the 3rd China Arts and Crafts Awards, Gold Award of the Huadong Fine Arts and Crafts 2002

Taking the natural shape of sandalwood root, a grand spring scene of flowers in bloom and a hundred birds worshipping the phoenix is depicted.

Putian Woodcarving Numerous Children

Artist: Li Fengqiang (Senior Arts and Crafts Artist)

Size: 229cm×18cm×50cm

Material: Eaglewood

This work is made of precious eaglewood. Figures in different shapes are carved in detail by carving face technique, expressing the artist's blessing to the visitors.

Cai-style Lacquered thread sculpture

Lacquer work originated in the Shang Dynasty three thousand years ago and the Xiamen specialty of Lacquered Thread Sculpture has been a traditional art and craft in Xiamen for three hundred years. Lacquered thread is hand made by rolling a mixture of brick powder, Chinese lacquer, boiled wood oil and other ingredients. Then the lacquered thread is placed on a mold to shape relief pictures.

It is said the development of Lacquered Thread Sculpture depends on the good will of the gods and derives from Buddha sculpture. As the 12th generation successor of Cai-style lacquered thread sculpture, the famous artist Cai Shuikuang transformed the Lacquered Thread Sculpture into an independent art of decoration which has become the main Lacquered Thread Sculpture and is well received. His works of art have been collected by the China National Art & Crafts Museum.

Suzhou embroidery portrait appreciation

Famous Chinese scientist Qian Xueshen(Embroidery)

The president of the United States Obama (Original photo)

The president of the United States Obama (Embroidery)

Clay figurines

According to a Chinese fairy tale, humans were created out of clay by a goddess. In the hands of the folk artists, this myth is repeated over and over as the otherwise worthless clay is melded into fascinating sculptures via kneading, basking, colouring and baking.

There are four schools of clay figurines in China.

Fengxiang in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has a 3,000- year-history of making clay sculptures. Clay Figurine Zhang, boasting a 180-year history, was created by Zhang Mingshan in North China's Tianjin City. Compared with those found in northern China, Huishan clay figurines from East China's Jiangsu Province are short and their facial expressions are vividly depicted. Gaomi Clay figurines. Clay figurines in Gaomi, a city in Shandong Province on the eastern coast of China, have a 400-year history.

Jade carving art

The Chinese regard carved jade objects as intrinsically valuable, and they metaphorically equate jade with human virtue due to its solidity, durability and (moral) beauty.

Many countries boast a jade ware culture, but none of them can match China's long jade ware history. In China, jade ware underwent a long process of development beginning from the New Stone Age 10,000 years ago.

The patterns of China's jade ware have rich connotations, revealing strong, auspicious colours. Bats and gourds were used as subjects for more than 100 patterns because the Chinese words "bat" and "gourd" sound like "good fortune" in Chinese. When a bat was carved on an ancient coin with a hole, it meant that fortune was at hand; bats coupled with birthday peaches referred to fortune and longevity; bats mixed with sika, birthday peaches and magpies were also considered good omens. These beliefs reflected the ancient Chinese people's yearning for a happy life and revealed the essence of China's traditional culture.

Jade in China is varied and can be divided into two categories: hard and soft jade. Good materials provide a strong basis for jade ware carving, but the value of a jade object depends on the skills and reputation of the craftsman, date of carving, peculiar modelling and the owner's status. Certainly, different people will have various views on the value of the same jade object. It is difficult to have a unanimous standard. Due to the high value of ancient jade ware, there is an equally long tradition of fake jade ware, which looks very much like the real thing. Jade ware collectors should be careful and seek the opinions of professionals before making any major purchases.

Lion Dance

The Lion Dance is one of the most widespread folk dances in China. The lion is the king of animals. In Chinese tradition, the lion is regarded as a mascot, which can bring good luck. The dance has a recorded history of more than 2,000 years. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Lion Dance was already introduced into the royal family of the dynasty.

In the dance usually two people act as a lion: one waving the lion head and the other waving the lion body and tail; or one performer acts as a cub, while the other holds a silk ball to play with it. They dance in tempo to the musical melody.

SUZHOU TAO HUA WU WOODCUT SPRING FESTIVAL PRINTS

With 400 years of history, Taohuawu in the city of Suzhou is well known at home and abroad for its woodblock new year picture which is a traditional Chinese art treasure. There were already printing and distribution of Taohuawu woodblock new year picture as early as the Ming dynasty, It was future developed in the early Qing dynasty and came up to a period of great prosperity during the region of Emperor Qianlong. Later it enjoyed equal popularity with Yangliuqing woodblock new year picture in Tianjing and it is reputed as “Taohuawu in the South and Yangliuqing in the North China”

There is a wide-range of subjects in its pictures which are characterized by rich in composition and decoration, tallness and grace in lines, resplendent with color and plain. It has still preserved the technique of hand cutting and printing with the rich local flavor and characteristics. It’s main contents range from propitiousness, blessing, history stories, legends, historical sites and scenic spots to season and folk customs, monasteries and temples, which are popularly loved by the Chinese people and which has also become people’s temperament and interest that the people are in pursuit of better life. Its specifications vary from Menhua (picture for doors), central scrolls to vertically-hung scrolls, Doufang (picture or writings on a square piece of paper) which are suitable to putting up on the walls and beautifying the environment.

In the recent years, the Taohuawu Society for woodblock new year picture has created a member of new works basing upon the inheritance of traditional pictures. Its staff members are often invited to exhibit their works or demonstrate hand-printing on the spot in many countries and are well received by the overseas Friends, and their activities have also contributed to promoting the world cultural exchange and strengthening the friendship between the people of China and other countries.

Ou Music

Ou Music

“Ou Music” (Ou refers the kitchenware such as cups, bowls, etc.), short for Yue kiln Celadon porcelain music from the, is also known as “water bowl” music. It represents a form of artistic expression and performance skill with the “Yue Kiln Ou bowl” as the main musical instrument, and is played by musical instruments and utensils made from ceramic clay,

Yue-kiln celadon porcelin Ou music originates from both sides of Hangzhou Bay and it developed alongside the development of the Yue kilns. In the mid-Tang dynasty, the Shanglin Yue Kiln’s “secret color porcelain” became a dynastic treasure and the celadon Ou music was welcomed in Beijing and began to develop. Celadon Ou music was rich but simple, elegant and beautiful, becoming very popular among ordinary people and refined scholars. A number of Ou music performers emerged, such as Guo Daoyuan, Ma Chushi, Bu Feiyin and so on, leaving behind many examples of tribute poetry. “The Road of Ceramics in Sea“ and “playing Ou” music consequently spread from China to India, Turkey and even Central Asia, West Asia and other neighboring countries.

The Yue-Kiln celadon Ou music has a long history. It is an outstanding historical and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation.