Have you ever thought about how old art can become new again? Meet Xu Mingtai, a 25-year-old artisan from Chaozhou in Guangdong Province, China🇨🇳. He’s helping to bring back a special kind of art called Qianci, or Chaozhou porcelain inlay, and giving it a fresh twist!
What is Chaozhou Porcelain Inlay? 🏺
Chaozhou porcelain inlay is an art form that started way back in the Ming Dynasty (that’s over 600 years ago!). It involves carefully cutting colorful pieces of porcelain (that’s like the material fancy plates are made from) and fitting them together to make beautiful pictures and designs. Think of it like a super-detailed puzzle! 🧩
This art was traditionally used to decorate places like temples, important family halls, and people’s homes. The porcelain pieces are so tough that they can survive all kinds of weather, and their colors stay bright for a very long time. 🌈
Beautiful Designs Full of Meaning 🌺🐲
The designs in this art include all sorts of things: flowers, animals, scenes from history, and even stories from Chinese opera. Each piece isn’t just pretty to look at; it also shows the hopes and dreams of the local people for happiness and good fortune. 🍀
Meet Xu Mingtai: The Young Artist Bridging Old and New 🧑🎨
When he was just 15 years old, Xu started learning this special art from a master named Lu Zhigao. But Xu didn’t want to just keep the art the way it was; he wanted to make it exciting for people today!
So, he began mixing traditional porcelain inlay with things that are popular now, like animations and retro Chinese styles. Imagine seeing your favorite cartoon characters made with colorful porcelain pieces! 😮
Why is This Important? 🤔
By combining old and new, Xu is helping more people, especially kids and teenagers, to appreciate this ancient art. He’s making sure that Chaozhou porcelain inlay doesn’t get forgotten but instead continues to shine in new and cool ways. 🌟
Keeping Traditions Alive 🏮
Thanks to passionate young people like Xu, traditional arts can find a place in our modern world. Who knows? Maybe you could be inspired to learn about or even try out some traditional crafts yourself! What kind of old art would you like to see brought back in a new way? 🎭
Reference(s):
Young artisan brings Chaozhou porcelain inlay into modern life
cgtn.com
