When "Quaint" and "Modern" Collide How does Mindu culture innovate?

[News Page-Taiwan Straits Network]

Fuzhou Shangxiahang Historical and Cultural District under the collision of "quaint" and "modern". Photographed by Chen Chengcai

There are oil-paper umbrellas on the side of the road, "blind box" toys are sold in the houses; art salons are being held in teahouses at the entrance of the alley, and bands in the bars at the end of the street have begun to sing " ... Half traditional, half modern, this is the norm of Fuzhou's cultural life at present.

When "quaint" and "modern" collide, how does Mindu culture innovate? During the two sessions of Fuzhou City in 2022, CPPCC members and observers handed over their own ingenious "answer cards".

"Tolerance" is the key word of Ke Xuejian, member of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, director of the Academic Department of Fuzhou Academy of Painting, and vice chairman of Fuzhou Calligraphers Association. The essence of Mindu culture lies in the urban spirit and regional character of "hai na hundred rivers, tolerance is great", in Ke Xuejian's view, the lifestyle of modern society is very diverse, and traditional culture is facing the "dilemma" of disappearing. "The inheritance of art is not a sole 'carnival' of the creator." He said that at present, Fuzhou should make good use of new media platforms to promote the resonance of traditional spiritual connotations with modern urban contexts through communication methods that young people like to hear, so as to make Mindu culture more popular, more inclusive and more "grounded".

"Creativity" is a new "label" posted by Xu Quan, a standing committee member of the Fuzhou Municipal CPPCC Committee and chairman of Fujian Weimeike Cultural and Creative Co., Ltd., for Mindu Culture. He believes that "clinging" to the visual perspective and consumer thinking of young people is the key to awakening urban memory. For example, modern aesthetic elements such as pop music, creative exhibitions, and cultural souvenirs are implanted in the quaint alleys to make The Culture of Mindu "come alive"; Shoushan stone and lacquerware are made into exquisite jewelry, and traditional crafts are "used". At the same time, we will build consumption scenes familiar to young people and create cultural and creative "settlements" with regional characteristics, so that the public can actively think about the historical story of Mindu while experiencing personalized consumption.

"Culture and people's livelihood" is a new concept proposed by Yang Guanghui, a participant at the first meeting of the 14th CPPCC Fuzhou Municipal Committee and the general manager of Fuzhou Pinde Culture and Art Co., Ltd. Yang Guanghui advocates the construction of a "cultural gym", that is, to innovate and create an "offline" integrated experience platform that integrates 3D, VR, and handmade. He said that letting the "cultural gym" "sit" in different areas of the city like a traditional gym, and including the creative works of the non-hereditary inheritors of Mindu through multiple forms of expression, not only enhances the attractiveness of Fuzhou's traditional culture, but also allows the people to have a "tide punching place" to meet spiritual needs and cultivate inner cultivation.

In addition to new media, new models, new technologies and other forms of innovation, Zheng Youlin, member of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and master of Chinese arts and crafts, focused on the innovation of cultural content in Mindu. "From tradition to modernity, it is necessary to keep up with the hot elements and aesthetic tastes of the moment, but the theme of 'truth, goodness and beauty' in art will never go out of fashion." Zheng Youlin integrated the anti-epidemic theme into the carving and creation of Shoushan Stone, using the original Mindu craft as the carrier to show the feelings of ordinary people's home and country. He said that what "portrays" the times is innovation, and the artist's sense of responsibility is to make the story behind the culture of Mindu warm people's hearts.

So, who should promote the innovation of both form and content? Lin Yimin, member of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the Fuzhou Municipal Party Committee Party History and Local History Research Office, believes that only through "the government setting up a stage and enterprises singing operas" can the cultural business card of Mindu be more and more "wiped" and newer. At present, we should sort out the cultural patterns that meet the characteristics of the current era and the needs of urban development from the traditional Culture of Mindu, and concentrate on "revitalization" and construction. At the same time, the government will lead and guide the cultural industry to achieve innovation, and encourage the development of cultural protection and cultural and creative enterprises through the construction of platforms and innovative mechanisms.

He is the stone of the mountain and can attack jade. Xu Quan suggested that relevant departments can learn from the development experience of other regions. He said: The special geographical relationship between Fuzhou and Taiwan determines the long history of cross-strait cultural relations. At present, Fuzhou needs to give full play to the advantages of the "five-edge culture" of "geographical proximity, blood affinity, cultural inheritance, business connection, and legal relationship" in Fujian and Taiwan, proceed from local culture, actively learn from the experience and practices of Taiwan's emerging cultural industries, and combine the "alternative" vision of Young people in Taiwan to achieve a "new upgrade" of Fujian's culture, so that young people on both sides of the strait can "revitalize" cultural heritage while retaining nostalgic memories.

Source: People's Daily News