Changsha ICH showcased at Spring Festival and Lantern Festival galas
2024-03-05
The Hunan embroidery work “Loong Chenchen” shone at Changsha Sub-venue.
Lovely “Loong Chenchen” was the mascot of the Spring Festival Gala of the Year of the Loong. Many ICH works with the theme of “Loong Chenchen” appeared on screen, and the Hunan embroidery work “Loong Chenchen”, jointly created by Li Yan, a national-level representative inheritor of Hunan embroidery, and Chang Ni, a municipal-level representative inheritor of Hunan embroidery, was particularly eye-catching, showcasing Hunan embroidery, a national-level ICH item, to the whole world.
This work’s manuscript was designed and drawn by Chang Ni on the basis of the original manuscript of the mascot “Loong Chenchen” for the Spring Festival Gala. Li Yan brought the image of “Loong Chenchen” to life by combining a variety of Hunan embroidery techniques.
Li Yan and her team also participated in the recording of the dance program “Double-sided Embroidery Shadow” at the Changsha Sub-venue. The work showcases the magnificent scenery of Zhangjiajie on one side and the splendid fireworks of Changsha City on the other side. Dancers performed gracefully in the interwoven space of virtuality and reality to blend with the art of Hunan embroidery.
“Our entire team made a lot of efforts for the Hunan embroidery works ‘Loong Chenchen’ and the ‘Double-sided Embroidery Shadow’. The program lasting for a few minutes was finished by us and the TV program production team staying up all night with a temperature as low as minus 8 degrees Celsius,” said Li Yan.
The work “Double-sided Embroidery Shadow” was inspired by Li Yan’s giant Hunan embroidery work “Zhangjiajie” created for the Hunan Hall of the Great Hall of the People in 2003. After 21 years, the work has been presented to global audiences in a new way of expression, showcasing the inheritance and innovation of Hunan embroidery techniques and reflecting the charm of Hunan culture in the new era.
The dough sculpture “Fire God Palace Temple Fair” was recommended.
The Changsha dough sculpture “Loong Chenchen”, produced by Chen Jincheng, a district-level representative inheritor of Changsha dough sculpture, made its debut at the 2024 Lantern Festival Gala.
The Changsha dough sculpture “Loong Chenchen” combines the image of Loong Chenchen with that of the traditional Chinese dragon. A steel wire skeleton design, sculptural techniques, and coloring skills make it more vivid.
In addition, the original dough sculpture “Lantern Festival Celebration”, designed and produced by Chen Jincheng, Hu Min and their team, was unveiled at the Lantern Festival Gala, during which He Jiong and Sa Beining (famous hosts) recommended the dough modeling work.
The work presented a lively and peaceful festive atmosphere to audiences across the country based on the national ICH representative project “Fire God Palace Temple Fair” in Changsha. It showcases the buildings of Fire God Palace, Changsha ICH snacks such as fried stinky tofu and Tangyou Baba and folk performances like traditional dragon and lion dances by integrating the traditional dough modeling techniques, clay modeling techniques, and wood carving techniques. At present, the work has been exhibited at the ICH Protection and Exhibition Center of Tianxin District.
“In order to showcase the rich cultural history of Changsha, after communicating with the director team of CCTV multiple times, the inheritor team of Changsha dough sculpture skills finally decided to present architectural landmarks such as the Fire God Palace so as to embody the Chinese New Year flavor of Changsha through the work, and make Changsha dough sculpture more well-known,” said Chen Jincheng.
The wonderful performance of Changsha’s ICH items in the 2024 Spring Festival Gala and the Lantern Festival Gala shows the never-ending inheritance of craftsmanship. The ICH inheritors have created many art works that meet the needs of the times in innovative ways by combining traditional skills and elements with modern aesthetics.
