Maison & Objet gets a taste of China
This year's first edition of Paris' premier trade fair treated to exhibition of Suzhou's sophisticated handicrafts, Li Yingxue reports.
Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye visited the exhibition. After thoroughly examining the display, Lu expressed his wish for the project to build more international connections in the hopes that the project can contribute to the global recognition of China's traditional culture and craftsmanship.
Suzhou is a vital center for preserving traditional craftsmanship. In 2014, it was recognized by UNESCO as the City of Crafts and Folk Art. Suzhou stands out for its diversity and exceptional skills, producing over 3,000 kinds of items in 10 of the 11 main categories of Chinese craftsmanship.
Focusing on craftsmanship and intangible cultural heritage, the items on display came from three traditional craft towns in Suzhou: Guangfu and Shengze, and Zhenhu subdistrict.
Guangfu is known as the "hometown of a hundred crafts", and has a long history and numerous skilled professionals involved in trades such as jade carving, nut carving, and woodcarving. Zhenhu is the main hub for Suzhou-style embroidery, which it has been producing for over 2,000 years. Almost half of its population is involved in the trade. Meanwhile, Shengze has a long-standing reputation for silk production, and its artisans have continued to innovate, giving rise to nationally recognized brands in the silk and textile sector.
All the items displayed were selected during the visit of Francois Delclaux, curator of the exhibition, to Suzhou in November.
Delclaux visited a number of cultural gems, from the Suzhou Museum and the Humble Administrator's Garden, to traditional craft towns like Guangfu and Shengze, and Zhenhu subdistrict.
