 |
|
Actual size sample section of the work by master artist Wang Lihua |
|
The the elaborate detail and rich colors of these incredible creations will stun you to silence. Words cannot describe the beauty and intricacy of this ancient art form which dates back to 800 B.C. |
|
|
|
Actual size sample section of the work by master artist Wang Lihua |
| For more than 2,800 years, silk embroidery has been coveted by
Chinese royalty both for clothing and décor. Originally, the robes of
nobles were embroidered with symbols of importance such as dragons,
phoenixes, and astrological bodies. Throughout the millennia, silk
embroidery became an integral part of the Chinese culture. Emperors
would use it as a reward for loyalty and reverence to their subjects.
Commoners sometimes paid their taxes with silk, and their daughters’
desirability for marriage was often assessed by her proficiency in silk
embroidery, which, as an important part of her dowry, was presented and
judged by the groom’s family. As time went on, the detailing got finer as the art form became more popular. The Suzhou-style silk artwork is, to this day, considered to be the finest of all. Using finely woven silk cloth as the “canvas,” these amazing embroiderers meticulously stitch designs, focusing on the love of nature, using delicate silk threads, which can be split into as many as 64 strands — finer than the hair of a baby. Employing many different techniques, these artists create pieces that seem to move in the changing light. Re-creations of well known paintings by Monet and Van Gogh as well as portraits of famous people are created with phenomenal accuracy. Many of these individual pieces are created by several different artists working together and can take as much as five years to complete. Regrettably, modern times and Western thinking has diminished the desire for China’s young people to learn this skill, and as a result, it is truly a dying art. It is widely believed that within 20 years there will be no more of these artisans. more
|