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WENZHOU -- The old artistry of colorstone inlay, with a history of about 2,000 years, is being injected with modern thinking and techniques.
Behind the hustle and bustle of the urban life, the city of Wenzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province has something quiet and unique to share with the world. Among 34 national cultural intangible heritages in the city, colorstone inlay has taken on a new look here at an exhibition called "Su Hua", literally "Transformation" in English.
Miao Yichuan, the fourth generation inheritor of colorstone inlay, showed how Chinese philosophy has influenced his cultural inheritance and his contemporary art here.
One of his pieces was accidentally flawed during production, but he kept it anyway, which he said was inspired by China's ancient Taoist philosophy.
"I think that's also Providence. Because when I polished this stone, there must have been an invisible crack in it. Then the crack was shattered during the processing. Normally, I'm supposed to discard it. But when I gave it a second thought, this was Taoism. Since the Tao endures all things, I keep this different piece," said Miao.
Miao likes the fine texture of cement, restrained with a low-profile temperament. Although cement is a man-made material, there is no lack of natural manner.
In 2016, Miao started experimenting the use of cement plate instead of wood. Having studied mechanics in college enabled his artistic side to innovate. Miao transformed the processing tools, tested the stability of glue, and adjusted the thickness and hardness of the metal frame. After six years of constant trials and errors, the artist showcased his creations in his hometown this spring.
"This innovation has actually used some traditional techniques. We just had some breakthroughs in composition and in aesthetic aspects. I’m not quite sure whether people like it or not. But I think art must be forward-looking, so are trends," said the inheritor.
First and foremost, artists need an artistic eye to find the beauty in raw materials. For Miao, selecting the right stones is the first step in innovation.
Young and old have been concentrating on this tradition for centuries. Miao said that although his new technique has reached a relatively mature level, he continues to explore. His bold innovation and pioneering business models are expected to let colorstone inlays shine in more households around the world.