Published : 27/09/2021
With the nimble fingers, craftswoman Yan Hong has transformed discarded materials into vibrant decorations, threads and even totems on traditional Chinese jewelry. Every stitch, every hammer strike, articulates this post-1980s woman's demonstration and inheritance of Chinese culture.
The Guofeng culture KOL championing China's cultural heritage
Born in 1989, Yan Hong did not formally study art. Before turning to handicraft, she spent five years studying medical care and two years working in a hospital.
Despite seven years of experience in medicine, she realized her true calling lay elsewhere. After resigning, she became a freelance make-up artist. Each time she saw pleasing headpieces in period dramas, she could not resist the urge to craft them with her own hands.
Yan Hong's first creation was a reproduction of a velvet ornament from the popular TV drama "Story of Yanxi Palace." She used machine-made velvet strips to mimic real flowers.
The post gained unexpected praise online once released. The velvet ornaments from Nanjing, featured in the drama, are locally characteristic handicrafts typically made from silk velvet, maintaining both luster and elasticity. Yan Hong's novel approach offered a far less expensive alternative.
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To replicate the headpieces from TV dramas, Yan Hong often scrutinizes a single scene dozens of times, managing to achieve a 70-80% resemblance even without having the physical object for reference.
Turning waste into riches to promote Chinese culture
In addition to recreations, the most effort from Yan Hong has gone into her original series, which she designs herself.
It includes characters from the ancient Chinese mythological book "Classic of Mountains and Seas," such as the Queen Mother of the West, the mythical bird Jingwei, and headpieces and makeup inspired by the bronze holy tree of Sanxingdui and the murals of the Mogao Caves. Her works are remarkably exquisite.
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"My current plan is certainly to solidify my professional knowledge first, working hard to make silver floral inlay under the mentorship of my master.
The second step involves combining our traditional crafts, bringing more works to everyone." From a handicraft expert to a craftsman, Yan Hong continues her journey of self-improvement and inheriting Chinese culture。
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