In the Evenki Autonomous Banner Ethnic Cultural Industry Pioneer Park, there is a young girl who is weaving dreams with her dexterous hands to promote the intangible cultural heritage of the Evenki people to the world. She is the "Sun Girl" Ajma.
When the morning sun rises, Ajma's sunflower studio begins its busy day. Here, each "sunflower" carries the Evenki nation's yearning for light and hope, they are not only decorations, but also a link between the past and the future. Ajima, a post-90s entrepreneur, has been exploring how to rejuvenate this traditional culture in the wave of the new era and become the focus of attention.
"Sunflower" is a traditional handicraft of the Evenki ethnic group, which was listed as an intangible cultural heritage project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2015. "Sunflowers" are usually based on deer skin or other animal skins, with animal hair and hand-beaded beads, and take the form of multi-layered and multi-petaled flowers. The design is inspired by Evenki folklore and tells the story of a sun girl named Shivin· Unagi, who uses the warm sunlight to bring light and hope to the Evenks who live in the forest. In order to commemorate her, the Evenks used fur and colored stones to make auspicious ornaments - "sun flowers", which means blessings, peace and auspiciousness.
And Ajma's growth path, like the "sunflower", is deeply rooted in the traditional culture of the Evenki people. Ajima's mother, Uren, is the representative inheritor of the "Sunflower", an intangible cultural heritage project at the level of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Since childhood, Ajima has a strong interest in ethnic handicrafts. In 2014, after graduating from Hohhot University for Nationalities, she resolutely returned to the Evenki Autonomous Banner and devoted herself to the study and production of "Sunflower" handicrafts.
Ajima knows that in order for Sunflower to remain alive in the new era, it must innovate on the basis of respecting tradition. Combining a modern aesthetic, she introduced a wealth of colors and a variety of materials, such as brightly colored beads such as red, green, and pink-purple, as well as new hair colors such as gray, and also creatively added local elements such as birch bark to give the "sunflower" a colorful appearance. These innovations not only meet the needs of modern aesthetics, but also give new vitality to "Sunflower", making it a bridge between tradition and modernity.
Talking about the business philosophy of the "Sun Girl" studio, Ajima said: "We only focus on one thing, and that is the 'sunflower'. In our shop, you can see various forms and styles of 'sunflowers', but we never deviate from the core of 'sunflowers', and the spirit of craftsmanship is our foundation. I believe that only by working hard can each work carry the weight of culture and the temperature of emotion. Ajima's "Sunflower" is not only very popular in the local area, but its influence has radiated to the whole country and even overseas. Every year, she brings her handicrafts to 30 to 40 exhibitions at home and abroad, including important events such as the Shenzhen Cultural Fair and the Autonomous Region Cultural Fair. Through these platforms, Ajima has successfully brought the cultural charm of the Evenki people to more people.
In the face of many challenges on the road to entrepreneurship, Ajma has shown maturity and tenacity beyond her years. In her view, the field of handicraft art faces two major problems, the weak awareness of copyright protection and the limitations of large-scale production of handicrafts, which are not insurmountable obstacles, but must be tested in the changing times. Ajima candidly shared her opinion: "When it comes to copyright protection, it is a step-by-step process. Now that our awareness of copyright is increasing, I believe that in the near future, the environment for copyright protection will be greatly improved. ”
It is this mindset that actively responds to challenges that inspires Ajma and her mother, Uren, to explore more diversified development paths. In this way, the "intangible cultural heritage + research" model was explored, and the production process of "Sunflower" handicrafts was transformed into a cultural experience journey. Since 2015, the "Sunflower" research experience tour has received more than 100 domestic and foreign research teams, and thousands of teenagers have participated in the production of "Sunflower" to gain an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of the Evenki people, which has stimulated their interest and love for intangible cultural heritage, and injected fresh blood into the sustainable development of "Sunflower" handicrafts.
With the unremitting efforts of Ajima, the "Sun Girl" brand has become a shining business card of the Evenki ethnic group and even Inner Mongolia culture. She firmly believes that with perseverance and love, she can overcome all difficulties and open up a path to success. In the days to come, Ajima will continue to deepen the production and promotion of "Sunflower", bloom in every corner of the world, and bloom with more brilliant light.
Reporter|Bai Na (trainee) Chen Xinyi (trainee)
Layout Editor|Liang Yan
Editor-in-charge|Yan Lixin
Editor-in-Chief|Fan Hua
Supervisor|Jona
Director system|Cultivating clouds