The 16th International Invitational Exhibition of Traditional Arts, themed "Symbiosis of Art and Digital Technologies and a Collection of Fine Works", was held in Songjiang district from Aug 22 to Sept 3. More than 100 artworks from over 30 countries and regions were on display alongside Songjiang's intangible cultural heritage.

Co-organized by the Shanghai Museum of Art, the Songjiang District Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Shanghai Vocational College of Arts and Crafts, and the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, the exhibition features around 120 artworks, including 75 international pieces and 45 works from Songjiang.

The international section showcased a variety of artistic styles, including mixed-media works from Kuwait, paintings from Turkmenistan and Slovakia, Tajik artworks, and Egyptian ceramics. The exhibition presented different cultural perspectives while creating opportunities for dialogue with Songjiang's traditional crafts.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Gu Embroidery's inclusion in the first batch of the National Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. A special exhibition area also showcased 20 pieces of Gu Embroidery.

Originating in Songjiang during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Gu Embroidery combines painting techniques with needlework. Craftspeople use needles as brushes and colored threads as pigments, recreating the artistic style of traditional Chinese paintings through embroidery.

Works such as Magpies among Red Leaves and Galloping Horses demonstrate the craft's delicate stitching techniques, soft colors, and integration of Chinese and Western artistic styles.

"After hundreds of years, this craft still brims with vitality," said Bao Jiashu, an Oxford visiting scholar and nominee for the Shanghai Hongqiao Friendship Award. "Events like this are important not only for China, but also for the world."

Chen Yiran, a Shanghai craftsman, said the international exhibits gave him new inspiration.

"Our works focus largely on traditional crafts and intricate stitching techniques, while Western creations prioritize conveying thoughts through inspiration. This makes me wonder how I can develop more pieces that bridge tradition and contemporary art in the future," Chen said.

The exhibition also featured live demonstrations of Songjiang's traditional crafts, including Songjiang cotton weaving, silk screen printing, and Gu Embroidery.

Source: Songjiang News