Exhibition opens door to intangible cultural heritage

AN exhibition featuring 18th-century woodcut prints are underway at Suzhou Art Museum through June 25.

The display, including nearly 100 high copies and five original Taohuawu prints from 1736 to 1796, reveals an extraordinary portrayal of life, social changes and development of the city of Suzhou.

Taohuawu woodcut prints, which originated in Suzhou and is listed as national intangible cultural heritage, feature delicate engravings, bright colors and varied themes expressing social issues, folk customs and environmental changes in the old Wu region.

The period form Emperor Kangxi to Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was the time when Taohuawu woodcut prints flourished in Suzhou.

Gao Fumin, a Chinese expert, has loaned Suzhou Art Museum the five original works.

"I have been engaged in the area for nearly 20 years," Gao said. "I" ve also published some articles on the subject to promote this ancient art genre. Taohuawau woodcut prints are indeed a cultural gem.”

Gao said original Taohuawu woodcut prints are very rare. He bought the pieces from a private Japanese collector several years ago.

Visitors to Suzhou Art Museum will be amazed by the superb techniques applied to the woodcarving and color processing. Layers of hues and intricate carving lines create details that seem beyond what a woodblock can offer.

"Some of the works are greatly influenced by Western techniques," Gao added.

Taohuawu woodcut prints express the temperament of scholars of their time. Some of the works focus on women, such as ladies reading books, playing the zither or writing poetry.

Date: Through June 25, 9am-5pm

Venue: Suzhou Art Museum

Address: 2075 Renmin Rd, Pingjiang District, Suzhou

How to get there: It takes only 30 minutes by high-speed train from Shanghai to Suzhou. From the train station, take bus No. 38 or No. 1 to Pingmen Station, which takes about 10 minutes.

                                                                                                                              ---- From Shanghai Daily