Mixing crafts on new ground

For Lu, the most rewarding part of the project came when the Beijing performers began working closely with musicians from Xinjiang.

"At first, communication was not easy because we speak differently," Lu says. "But we share something in common — we are all committed to protecting traditional arts."

After several rehearsals, the two sides gradually found ways to blend the movements of the shadow puppets with the rhythms of Xinjiang's traditional music.

Lu says he learned a great deal from the local artists, particularly how to capture the distinctive movements of Xinjiang dance.

"One example is the posture of a Xinjiang woman dancing," he says. "Previously, our puppet simply placed one hand on its waist. The local artists suggested raising the other hand and adding movements that flowed with the rhythm. It instantly made the character feel more natural."

For Lu, the collaboration was about "absorbing elements from each other".

The troupe hopes the cooperation can continue beyond the short performance.

"We believe that one day we can create a full-length production together, combining the two sides' music and storytelling techniques," Lu says.

The troupe has also launched a workshop during its Xinjiang visit, introducing local children to the craft of making shadow puppets.

"We hope this traditional craft can take root among young people here and help promote their culture," he adds.

Fresh expressions

Across the exhibition hall, the Xinjiang mulberry-bark paper, known as sangpi paper, was embarking on a different path toward renewal.

Sheets of paper were placed beneath the carved woodblocks used in art studio Rongbaozhai's centuries-old woodblock watermark printing technique, producing a series of collectible artworks.

The experiment was not easy.

According to Li Yang, deputy director of Rongbaozhai's woodblock watermark center, the team has worked with different types of mulberry paper from various regions, including paper used in restoration projects at the Palace Museum.

Each region produces mulberry paper with its own texture and characteristics, he explains.

For the Xinjiang collaboration, Rongbaozhai used local mulberry paper to print images including the "Five Stars Rising in the East" brocade, discovered at the Niya archaeological site in Hotan prefecture, Xinjiang, as well as a panda-themed design.

The results showed both challenges and possibilities.

Compared with papers traditionally used in Chinese painting, Xinjiang's mulberry paper has a coarser texture and more prominent fibers, making precise printing more difficult.

During the printing process, the team had to repeatedly apply additional layers to achieve the desired effect.