In Made in China contemporary Chinese artists, designers and craftspeople explore the interaction between tradition and innovation. Their work, ranging from sustainable fashion and recycled materials to unique works of art, is a response to social developments, and demonstrates how the culture of making in China constantly reinvents itself. The exhibition offers an inspiring look at how creativity and skill come together in a changing world, and focuses on a culture of making, both past and present.
Made in China showcases the work of contemporary Chinese artists, designers and craftspeople responding to a rapidly changing world and breathing new life into Chinese cultural traditions. These makers explore themes like sustainability, identity and craft in their work.
Chen Hangfeng: Papercuts with a modern twist
Artist Chen Hangfeng delved into the rich history of papercutting and discovered the contemporary power of this traditional technique. “Papercuts express ideas in a simple, powerful and graphic way”, says Chen. Yet he found today’s patterns lacking in creativity compared to those of the past.
To revive the art form, Chen apprenticed himself to a papercut master. He sees a major difference between the past, when artists were inspired by nature, and now, in a world where we are surrounded by brands and logo’s. In his work, Chen fills traditional Chinese symbols for happiness, prosperity and longevity with modern logos and symbols that reflect our consumer society.
Using this combination, he explores how new wealth has become an integral part of traditional Chinese celebrations, bringing together tradition and contemporary culture in a unique way.
Masters of woodblock printing
Around 1945 the famous calligraphy and painting studio Rongbaozhai in Beijing took the ancient technique of woodblock printing to a whole new level. It managed to make highly realistic copies of traditional ink paintings by carefully compiling the images from dozens, sometimes hundreds, of carved wooden blocks, which were carefully inked by hand. These “woodblock printed paintings” impressively capture the subtle gradations and expressive brushwork of the original.
The master painters, carvers and printers of Rongbaozhai and Duoyunxuan in Shanghai (formerly a branch of Rongbaozhai) are known for their extraordinary skill, and the results of their efforts are regarded as works of art in themselves.
