Woodprint art bonds China and Vietnam

An exhibition displaying more than 100 pieces of nianhua, or New Year paintings, from China and Vietnam opened at East China Normal University in Shanghai, showcasing the charm of Chinese intangible cultural heritage and its close cultural ties with the Southeast Asian country.

The majority of the pieces are New Year woodprint pictures, an art form listed among China's first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. The folk tradition employs woodblock printing techniques and typically features auspicious, celebratory themes that symbolize people's hopes for a better life.

New Year woodprint pictures are found across China and have wide distribution, with major production centers in Yangliuqing, Tianjin; Yangjiabu, Shandong province; Mianzhu, Sichuan province; and Taohuawu, Jiangsu province. Each region's prints are celebrated for their unique artistic merits.

Southern prints are often characterized by their ancient elegance and soft colors, while northern print pictures tend to exhibit bold, unconstrained styles and bright hues.

New Year woodblock prints have also had a significant influence in Southeast Asian nations. Bordering China, Vietnam has long been a center of the folk art.

In Vietnam, New Year woodprint pictures usually retain numerous Chinese cultural elements while integrating with local culture and characteristics. They have gradually evolved into a distinct representative art form and were listed as part of Vietnam's national cultural heritage in 2013.

Tian Zhaoyuan, curator and professor at East China Normal University, says China's New Year paintings are a "visual epic" of the nation's agricultural civilization. At the same time, Vietnam's represent the overseas inheritance of such epics.

"They bear witness to the enduring cultural ties and Silk Road friendship between China and Vietnam," said Tian at the opening ceremony on Dec 5.

During the exhibition, inheritors of intangible cultural heritage from both nations are showcasing traditional crafts, including carving, printing, and painting. Visitors can experience the masterful craftsmanship passed down through generations and immerse themselves in a cultural dialogue that transcends language barriers.

Running through Jan 7, the exhibition also features diverse activities that extend beyond the campus, aiming to present the vitality of traditional Chinese culture and offer the public easier access to folk art.

During the exhibition, the university's museum will also host academic seminars and workshops in local communities to help the public understand various folk arts and traditions.