Hainan artisans stitch memory into modern life

Deep in the inland mountains of Hainan province, women of the Li ethnic group — affectionately known as a-jie, or sisters — live at an unhurried pace. They work in the fields, care for their families, and in moments of quiet leisure, weave and plait by hand.

For generations, their handicrafts remained largely within their own communities. Today, however, these vivid expressions of creativity have traveled far beyond the island, reaching audiences across China and overseas.

A-Jie Says, a special exhibition now on at the Rainforest Art Park, in Beijing's 798 art zone, presents the woven and dyed works by these gifted Li farmer-artists from Maodao village, Wuzhishan city, Hainan. The long-term exhibition offers a window into the rich spiritual world of the a-jie group.

Drawing colors and materials from indigo grass, rosewood, Java plum trees and white rattan, the women transform scenes from everyday life into intricate patterns and motifs. Their works reflect memories of rice planting, gathering wild vegetables, walking mountain trails, and listening to folk tales passed down through generations.

The exhibition is part of Our Expression, a broader cultural program featuring exhibitions, costume shows, salons and creative markets centered on Li weaving and dyeing traditions. The event opened on April 25 at the Cultural Palace of Nationalities in collaboration with the Wuzhishan city government.