On January 3rd, HONG Jianhua, renowned Chinese master of bamboo and wood carving and inheritor of Huizhou bamboo carving, a form of China's national-level intangible cultural heritage, delivered a lecture on bamboo and wood carving techniques to teachers and students from the School of Design.

Mr. HONG, recalling his personal experiences, elaborated on bamboo carving, one of the four Huizhou-style carving techniques, from how to design, make, and appreciate bamboo artifacts. He first expounded on the differences between various carving methods such as hair engraving, flat relief carving, deep relief carving, and seal carving by comparing different handicrafts of the same type. Then, he showed the beauty and charm of ancient craftsmanship through an appreciative analysis of traditional artifacts commonly used in our ancestors’ daily life, such as armrests, seal holders, penholders, birdcages, seals, bone fans, etc.

Inspired by the master's perseverance and endless pursuit of beauty, the students present made up their mind to steep themselves in Chinese culture. The teachers present commented that bamboo carving embodies the elegant lifestyle of ancient literati and is an important medium for appreciating and inheriting traditional fine culture.

It was learned during the lecture that Mr. HONG serves as Director of the Huizhou Sculpure Museum of Huangshan, a national-level intangible cultural heritage protection and research center that integrates production, education, and research. It is hoped that modern design can empower the modernization and revival of traditional bamboo carving techniques, which could in turn provide rich soil for future designers to draw inspiration from.