The development of Tianjin in modern times has many similar factors to Shanghai, however, different local atmospheres have bred different folk cultures. The Paper learned that the "Worldly Elegance - Tianjin Folk Crafts Exhibition" was exhibited at the Shanghai Municipal History Museum (Shanghai Museum of Revolutionary History) on December 18. The exhibition is divided into five parts, exhibiting 58 groups of folk crafts collected by the Tianjin Museum, including the New Year paintings created by the Haipai painter Qian Hui'an who traveled to Jinmen, the "Clay Man Zhang" painted sculpture of the god Bi Xiao, and the Yangliu Youth Painting... All kinds of handicrafts show the unique artistic charm of Tianjin folk crafts under the infiltration of Jinmen culture.
Exhibition site
Folk arts and crafts, based on the daily life of the masses, have a strong atmosphere of life and regional characteristics. It not only reflects the different social landscapes of various places, but also integrates into the daily life of ordinary people. Folk artists collect materials and nutrients from life, creating a colorful and unhurried folk art form.
Exhibition site Liu Fengming made brick carvings
The style of Tianjin folk arts and crafts is deeply influenced by a variety of art genres and civic tastes, and leads the way in the local culture with Tianjin characteristics, showing the characteristics of elegant and popular appreciation. Its themes are extensive, the content is rich, and the creative methods are changeable, which fully reflects the wisdom and talents of Tianjin folk artists, and shows the profound cultural heritage and public foundation. They are not only the treasures of Tianjin folk art, but also the wonders of Chinese folk art garden.
The exhibition features five parts: Paintings flowing through the years, clay sculptures, paper kites flying, colorful patterns, and carved bricks.
Wei painting flows for years. Tianjin Yangliu Youth Painting is a famous folk woodblock print in China, once known as "Wei Painting". Yangliu Qing woodblock prints have created a unique style of vivid and lively, festive and auspicious, and full of touching themes. In the history of Chinese printmaking, together with the Suzhou Taohuawu New Year Painting, it is called "South Peach and North Willow".
Willow Youth Painting
Exhibition scene Yang Liu youth painting
Clay sculpture ancient. The "Clay Man Zhang" painted sculpture was created by Tianjin folk artist Zhang Mingshan in the mid-19th century and has been handed down for six generations. His artistic figures are both shaped and precisely proportioned, and the coloring and drawing techniques are delicate and the colors are harmonious, reaching the realm of perfect unity of clay sculpture and color.
"Clay Man Zhang" painted sculpture
Paper kites fly. During the Republic of China, Tianjin artist Wei Yuantai kites have rich themes, exquisite compositions, and bold innovations in production processes, so that large-scale kites can be folded freely. The "Kite Wei" that has been passed down to this day retains strong local characteristics and unique artistic style.
Paper kites works
Wei Yuantai kite
Colorful patterns. The art style of paper-cutting in Tianjin was formed in the late Qing Dynasty, and the paper-cutting technique was divided into two kinds of cutting and engraving, and in the later period, more engraving methods were used. Its style pays attention to realism, and the transition between lines and surfaces is soft. Tianjin paper-cutting theme is auspicious and festive, and draws on and absorbs the pattern design in new year paintings, porcelain, wood carving and other arts to obtain a full and abundant artistic effect.
Paper-cut works
The carved bricks are picturesque. The late Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty were the "golden age" of Tianjin brick carving, and Liu Fengming was an outstanding artist at this time. He is known for his three-dimensional and semi-three-dimensional through carving, and his composition is full, dense and moderate, and the decoration is interesting, known as "carved brick Liu".
Liu Fengming made brick carvings
The most eye-catching features of this exhibition are many new year paintings by Haipai painter Qian Hui'an. Qian Hui'an is a famous painter of the Shanghai School, and the representative painter of the "City God Temple School". During the Guangxu years, he was invited to Tianjin Yangliuqing Painting Shop to paint and lived in Jinmen for nearly 20 years. During this period, he created more than 100 kinds of paintings, integrating the advantages of traditional Chinese paintings, Western figure paintings and folk New Year paintings, breaking the long-term symmetrical composition method of Yangliu Youth Painting, and the main color style also changed from intense to light, bringing a Shanghai breeze to Yangliu Youth Painting.
Qian Hui'an works
The works of "Clay Man Zhang" also came to Shanghai this time. Legend has it that Zhang Mingshan, the founder of "Clay Man Zhang", only needs to sit and talk with people, fight the soil in his hands, and make a soundless and instantaneous. The face is not only shaped, but also vivid. From Zhang Mingshan to his sons and grandsons, this craft is not a legend of family blood, but also an eternal national memory.
In addition, Tianjin's carved brick carvings with exquisite auspicious patterns, lively and festive structures, and unique kites can make people feel the strong taste of the Year and the atmosphere of life, and stimulate the audience's passion for continuous struggle to achieve a better life.
Exhibition Title: "Worldly Elegance - Tianjin Folk Crafts Exhibition"
The exhibition period is from 18 December to 15 February 2022
Exhibition location: The first floor of the West Building of Shanglibo (Shanggebo).