On August 2, sponsored by the Propaganda Department of the Liwan District Committee of Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, and the Liwan District Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and supported by the Curatorial Committee of the Guangdong Artists Association, the list of "Limeng - Liwan Young Artist Cultivation Program" (hereinafter referred to as the "Limeng Project") was announced, and 5 young artists were selected.
Since its launch on June 26, the project has attracted applications from young artists from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Zhuhai, Foshan and other places in the Greater Bay Area. Many artists have diverse geographical backgrounds and colorful study and work experiences, including international artists who have crossed the ocean and come to China from Europe to further their studies, students from the eight major art academies in China who have studied theory and skills, returnee artists who have returned from studying art in United Kingdom, United States, Singapore and other places, and gallery managers with profound industry accumulation and carpenter family heirs who inherit the skills of Cantonese opera dance masters. "Their participation not only injects a multicultural perspective and international artistic concept into the 'Limeng Project', but also brings innovative thinking and profound professionalism to the 'Limeng Project'." The relevant person in charge of Liwan District introduced.
After strict evaluation by the judges, five young artists from different art fields, Chen Yinfang, Wang Jue, Wang Nanyi, Xu Rujie and Zhong Huiqi, became the final candidates of the "Limeng Project".
Liwan District is rich in historical and cultural resources, and has preserved a large number of traditional historical and cultural features. After the press conference, the organizing committee led five young artists to embark on an in-depth exploration journey in Liwan. They first visited Ju Yuanxiang, the studio of Wang Xinyuan, the representative inheritor of Guangxiu embroidery skills at the municipal level, and had an in-depth understanding of the rich connotation of Guangxiu art. Guangxiu is known for its full composition, expressive image, clear texture, rich color and luster and diverse stitches. The artists not only appreciated Wang Xinyuan's works, but also had an in-depth exchange of ideas on craftsmanship and artistic creation with him, and experienced the changeable techniques of Cantonese embroidery, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern art creation. Subsequently, the artists came to the Frangipani Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum. Here, they had an in-depth understanding of the history and legend of frangipani and its connection with Cantonese culture, and had an in-depth dialogue and exchange with Long Zhimin, the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, to learn about the morphological characteristics, growth habits, production and application of frangipani. This all-round traditional cultural experience will undoubtedly provide rich inspiration for the artists' subsequent creations. In the afternoon, they took a cruise on Lychee Bay and slowly returned to Yongqing Fang along the waterway, where they continued to explore the history of Liwan and the profound heritage of Cantonese opera, accumulating valuable inspiration and materials for their artistic creation.
It is understood that the organizing committee will also organize young artists to visit historical landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Liwan Museum, and Pantang Five Covenants to experience the customs of Lingnan water towns and ancient and modern cities. These immersive cultural experiences will help artists draw inspiration from the streets of Liwan to create artworks that connect people and nature, tradition and modernity, community and urban life. At the beginning of October, the creative achievements of young artists will be gathered into an exhibition of the achievements of the "Limeng Project", allowing the public to have an in-depth understanding of the works of young artists and raising their attention to Liwan culture and young artists. During the exhibition, a cultural exchange salon will be held, providing a platform for artists, critics, collectors and art lovers to exchange and interact.
Since the beginning of this year, Liwan District has launched a series of innovative initiatives to cultivate young artists, covering various fields such as art, music, Cantonese opera and Cantonese opera, which not only showcases the unique charm of Lingnan culture, but also provides a broad development platform for young creators, stimulating their creative enthusiasm and innovation potential.