Culture, Art and Science Perpetuate Intangible Cultural Heritage - The TASA-assisted Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition and Theme Forum at China Science and Technology Museum Is a Success

On February 24, 2023, the opening ceremony of the "Integration of Culture, Art and Science" Innovation and Development Forum and the "BMW China Culture Journey Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition" was held at the China Science and Technology Museum. The exhibition was co-organized by the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (AADTHU), the China Science and Technology Museum, and BMW China, and undertaken by the Tsinghua (Qingdao) Academy of Arts and Science Innovation Research (TASA). The exhibition featured the creative works of the "Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University - Tsinghua BMW Innovation Center for ICH Safeguarding", which were jointly designed and created by the instructors of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University and ICH Inheritors in a "one-on-one learning by doing" mode, and were displayed for the first time in a national pavilion for the public on a long-term basis.

Ten ICH Inheritors in internship from the "Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University - Tsinghua BMW Innovation Center for ICH Safeguarding" were invited to the opening ceremony as guests. On the morning of February 24, the ten inheritors set off from Liaoning and Yunnan to Beijing, making their first stop at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, where Prof. WANG Jiansong, Executive Vice President of the Tsinghua (Qingdao) Academy of Arts and Science Innovation Research, and FU Hang and ZHANG Yazheng, TASA project leaders, showed them the laboratories across the Academy's school house. After that, Prof. WANG Jiansong and the inheritors explored the state and trend of the ICH industry, including the inheritors' perseverance in their skills, the exploration of the contemporary value of ICH, and the best practices to bring traditional crafts to the market.

联合国科教文组织代表夏泽翰先生视频致辞

Video speech by Mr. Shahbaz Khan, Representative of UNESCO

According to YIN Hao, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and Curator and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the China Science and Technology Museum, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress advocated that Chinese-style modernization is a modernization that harmonizes material and spiritual civilization. We, therefore, will carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture to meet people’s ever-growing intellectual and cultural needs. Bearing the mission of making our citizens more capable in science and culture, science and technology museums are an important platform in our public cultural service system to improve public understanding of science. This exhibition strategically and innovatively integrates art, culture and science, providing a new way of thinking for science education and traditional culture. Also, it is a hands-on experience for better implementation of the strategy for invigorating China through science and education, the workforce development strategy, and the innovation-driven development strategy.

中国科技馆馆长、党委副书记殷皓致辞

Speech by Mr. YIN Hao, Curator and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the China Science and Technology Museum

MA Sai, Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, said that the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, formerly known as the Central Academy of Arts and Design, is bound to the traditional arts and craft projects that are placed on the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) today. The Academy's majors have worked closely with the key traditional craft regions in China. Under the guidance of the ICH department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University has done well in recent years with regard to research and training of ICH, traditional craft workstations, as well as the construction of key laboratories of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In 2019, the Tsinghua (Qingdao) Academy of Arts and Science Innovation Research was incorporated into the "Tsinghua BMW Innovation Center for ICH Safeguarding". Under the innovative empowerment model of "one-on-one learning by doing", many fine works were created by the instructors and the inheritors, showing the possibility of ICH works in future market and commercialization.

清华美院院长马赛教授致辞

Speech by Prof. MA Sai, Dean of AADTHU

Dr. DAI Hexuan, President and CEO of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. said, "The BMW Group is committed to an electric, digital and recycling future in pursuit of its sustainability strategy. 'No premium without responsibility.' A 'premium' automotive player in the electric vehicle era must be one that is economically, socially and environmentally responsible with a sustainable vision. Sustainable development means not only green and low-carbon, but also concerns people and society. The exhibition presents the social results of BMW and its partners' 17 years of joint efforts to preserve ICH, and is a perfect demonstration of the sustainable development outlook, especially a case of cultural preservation contributing to sustainable development."

华晨宝马有限公司总裁兼首席执行官戴鹤轩博士致辞

Speech by Dr. DAI Hexuan, President and CEO of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd.

In the "Integration of Culture, Art and Science" Innovation and Development Forum, LU Xiaobo, President of the Tsinghua (Qingdao) Academy of Arts and Science Innovation Research, Senior Professor of Liberal Arts of Tsinghua University and Vice Chairman of China Artists Association, spoke about "Building a New Model of Innovative ICH Development" as an instructor of the "Innovation Center". In particular, he was a compelling storyteller who recounted the creative experiences of the faculty and students of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University and the ICH Inheritors, covering four fields: the innovative model of "one-on-one learning by doing"; the inheritors' power we saw; the intersection of contemporary design and traditional thinking of making things; and the cooperation with inheritors to help ICH innovation. In his opinion, students and inheritors should be complementary to each other and, in particular, it's important to make progress in carrying forward ICH by empowering traditional Chinese culture with modern design techniques.

鲁晓波教授做论坛主旨演讲

Keynote speech by Prof. LU Xiaobo

WANG Jiansong, Executive Vice President of the Tsinghua (Qingdao) Academy of Arts and Science Innovation Research and Professor of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, presided over the forum. SU Dan, Adjunct Professor of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University and Deputy Curator of the China Arts and Crafts Museum (China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum), gave a keynote speech at the forum. CHEN Anying, Director of the Department of Arts & History and Professor of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, CHEN Zheng, Associate Professor of Beijing Jiaotong University, CHEN Huansheng, Inheritor of the Liaoning amber carving, CUN Yujian, Inheritor of the Yunnan Heqing silver forging, and PU Minghui, Inheritor of the Yunnan Mouding Yi embroidery, attended the forum as guests.

汪建松教授(左二)主持论坛、陈岸瑛教授(左三)、陈征教授(左四)、传承人陈焕升(右三)、传承人寸煜坚(右二)、传承人普明惠(右一)作为论坛嘉宾出席

Prof. WANG Jiansong (second from left) presided over the forum; Prof. CHEN Anying (third from left), Prof. CHEN Zheng (fourth from left), inheritor CHEN Huansheng (third from right), inheritor CUN Yujian (second from right), and inheritor PU Minghui (first from right) attended the forum as guests

汪建松教授主持论坛

Prof. WANG Jiansong presided over the forum

苏丹教授做论坛主旨演讲

Prof. SU Dan delivered the keynote speech

论坛嘉宾陈岸瑛教授(中)

Forum guest Prof. CHEN Anying (middle)

In 2016, the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University and BMW jointly established the "Tsinghua BMW Innovation Center for ICH Safeguarding" to serve ICH inheritors, explore innovative paths and models for ICH inheritance, preservation, and development, and help revitalize China's traditional crafts for the purpose of China's ICH preservation, research and promotion. In 2019, Tsinghua (Qingdao) Academy of Arts and Science Innovation Research joined the "Tsinghua BMW Innovation Center for ICH Safeguarding". In the new model of design empowerment, the center assisted dozens of ICH inheritors from Sichuan, Hunan, Yushu in Qinghai, Hainan, Liaoning, Hubei, and Yunnan in establishing project teams with instructors from AADTHU, carried out tailor-made training plans, and organized the "one-on-one" innovative mode, thus creating a batch of incredible and admirable works that have received widespread acclaim from the public. So far, the "Tsinghua BMW Innovation Center for ICH Safeguarding" has held 6 social innovation achievement exhibitions and more than 20 seminars, benefiting nearly 500 ICH inheritors nationwide.

ICH works from Yunnan made a debut in this exhibition. Pine and Crane, co-created by LU Xiaobo, President of Tsinghua (Qingdao) Academy of Arts and Science Innovation Research and Senior Professor of Liberal Arts of Tsinghua University, and CHEN Huansheng, ICH inheritor of the Liaoning amber carving, and Crane·Yin and Yang, co-created by Professor LU Xiaobo and DING Dawei, ICH inheritor of the Yunnan black copper and silver making technique, were both inspired by many paintings of auspicious cranes by Prof. LU Xiaobo. Among them, the Pine and Crane is a piece featuring the natural relationship between pines and cranes, with a crane carved into the amber, a perfect combination of the clam amber and the agile crane to express the artist's intention. Crane·Yin and Yang seamlessly integrated agile, elegant auspicious cranes into simple, dignified black copper to create items, including ink inkstones and tea sets, with an enhanced sense of depth using black and white hues. The unique artistic technique showcases the proud, noble, and transcendent quality of the Chinese humanistic spirit.

乌铜走银《鹤·两仪》

 

乌铜走银《鹤·两仪》

Crane·Yin and Yang created via black copper and silver making technique

Mr. CUN Yujian, ICH inheritor of the Yunnan Heqing silver forging, under the joint guidance of Prof. MA Sai, Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and Prof. ZHANG Lei, Director of the Department of Industrial Design, Tsinghua University, combined the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese traditional culture. After many design revisions and elaborations, the design team of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, including AN Xin, LI Jingwen, BO Tongguang, DING Bohan, YI Pengjun, ZHENG Ruonan, MU Yusen, finally completed the design together with the ICH inheritor. Among them are representative works like The Immortal with Dragon in the Cloud, featuring a majestic dragon with golden scales shimmering in the moonlight in a limbo state between stillness and movement; Fish Leaping over the Dragon Gate, a pot engraved and inlaid with lifelike koi jumping high out of the water; Square and Round, a work which draws inspiration from the meaning of "rule" and "order" in "round sky and square earth", adopts a concise, modern design language, and brings together the unique aesthetics in form with functionality; Time Geometry, a tea set featuring an angular vertical geometric surface, which plays with light and shadow in unique, gorgeous ways and packs a dynamic, contrasting visual and visceral punch; Auspicious Crown whose overall design is inspired by the ancient Chinese emperor's crown. The shape of its handle is like the component connecting the tassels on a crown, which is magnificent and dignified; Rules, incorporating modern industrial design elements; Leisure Time, featuring a large geometrical section, adding a new cutting style to silverware.

鹤庆银器系列作品

 

鹤庆银器系列作品

 

鹤庆银器系列作品

Heqing silver forging collection

The Love for Mountains and Waters collection, co-created by LI Wei, a professor at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and DUAN Yuan, ICH inheritor of the Bai nationality tie-dyeing technique, is designed with various forms of installation layouts and a traditional technique, giving a twist to the vastness and majesty of mountains and waters. It is a static portrayal of the impression of Chinese mountains and waters and also an artistic reimagination of traditional cultural legacies.

白族扎染《乐山水》

 

白族扎染《乐山水》

Love for Mountains and Waters created via the Bai nationality tie-dyeing technique

WANG Jianzhong, a professor at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and HUANG Qian, ICH inheritor of Jianshui purple pottery firing technique, brought many purple pottery works, including Rongxiang Pot and Ambitious Rabbit, to the interactive area of the ICH exhibition and demonstrated the craftsmanship and culture of Jianshui purple pottery.

建水紫陶展演区

 

建水紫陶展演区

Jianshui Purple Pottery exhibition area

ZHANG Hongjuan, an associate professor at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and PU Minghui, ICH inheritor of Yi embroidery, created a series of works, including Hundreds of Miles of Yi Flowers. The Yi people's aspiration for a better living and aesthetic fulfillment is vividly reflected in the interactive three-dimensional flower art installations, automobile interiors and other elements, created using Mouding Yi embroidered crafts.

彝族刺绣《彝花百里》

 

彝族刺绣《彝花百里》

Hundreds of Miles of Yi Flowers created via Yi embroidery

The new BMW 7 Series Huacai Huiyao Collector's Edition co-created by the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University and BMW also made a debut in this exhibition in the national pavilion. The car is a synthesis of the exquisite century-old car-making technologies and symbols of traditional Chinese culture, as well as a poster child for the cross-fertilization and symbiosis of Eastern and Western cultures. The overall design of the vehicle incorporated Chinese cultural symbols, including the jade ring pattern of the Han Dynasty, Ji blue glaze porcelain, and Jiangzhen incense, as well as embroidery, Chinese lacquer, mother-of-pearl inlay, and other ingenious production techniques into an inspiring, classic showcase for "introducing ICH into modern life". It is an exemplar of "to each his own is beautiful" and "sharing beauty with all" in Eastern and Western cultures, as well as a classic case of "creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese excellent traditional culture".

“华彩辉耀典藏版”7系

BMW 7 Series Huacai Huiyao Collector's Edition