Exhibition “Auspicious Blessings — Chinese New Year Prints from Yangliuqing”

Jointly organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, the People’s Government of Xiqing District of Tianjin, the Chinese Academy of Arts and the Macao Museum, an exhibition entitled “Auspicious Blessings -- Chinese New Year Prints from Yangliuqing” will be presented to the public on the 3rd floor of the Macao Museum between 20 January and 25 March, aiming at welcoming the Chinese New Year and increasing the Macao residents and visitors’ awareness of the Chinese intangible cultural heritage and its protection by the public. Named after the town located in western suburb of Tianjin, the Yangliuqing New Year prints, nianhua (woodblock prints for Chinese New Year), is the most representative folk art form among the others in China. With its unique artistic features and decorative beauty, diverse contents as well as propitious leitmotivs, pleasing both reined and popular tastes, the Yangliuqing nianhua, amid the other New Year prints, has been greatly appreciated by large numbers of people and become the most celebrated and artistic item for greeting the Chinese New Year. For that reason, it was listed by the State Council of China as one of the first national intangible cultural heritages in May 2006. Originated in the reign of Chongzhen Emperor (1628-1644) of the Ming dynasty and marked its height during the reign of Qianlong Emperor (1736-1795) of the Qing dynasty, the Yangliuqing nianhua has a history over three hundred years. It came to decline and was nearly brought to its brink of extinction during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945). After the founding of the new China, especially ever since the launch of the open door policy, this traditional Chinese art, the Yangliuqing nianhua, has regained a new life. The process of producing Yanliuqing nianhua is relatively complicated. A preliminary design is copied to a woodblock and engraved until the lined pattern is ready on the woodblock. Prints are taken from the woodblock monochromatically, or combining the technique of chromatography and followed by hand-coloured painting. The whole production process requires strict rigour in every part of the work, thus masterful techniques are demanded. The present exhibition of Yangliuqing nianhua aims at further promoting and popularizing national folk art, speeding up cultural exchanges, enhancing Macao people and visitors’ recognition and protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Sixty-four prints with woodblocks and tools from Yangliuqing will be displayed in the exhibition, interpreting the subjects from door gods, beauties and chubby children, Chinese opera characters to auspicious emblems and historical tales, etc． A series of activities and printing workshops will be held during the exhibition period to further promote the understanding of the nianhua’s art. They are scheduled as follow: The Teachers’ Sessions: On Sunday, 21 January, 10am to 12pm & 2:30pm to 4:30pm, demonstrations of producing nianhua by the masters from Yangliuqing. Discussions with teachers will be followed after the demonstrations. School Workshops: From 7 February, on every Wednesday afternoon, 3pm to 4pm & 4pm to 5pm; and on every Saturday morning, 10am to 11am & 11am to 12pm, printing workshops of “Let’s Paint & Colour” for students. Family Workshops: Sundays of 28 January, 4 and 11 February, 10am to 12pm, “Way to Yangliuqing nianhua” workshops for families. Guided Tours: Guided tours are offered to schools and community groups by prior appointments. The numbers of participants to the workshops are limited. Starting from today, earlier register is necessary on the basis of first come, first served. For further information, please call: 28357911 or consult the website: www.icm.gov.mo and www.macaumuseum.gov.mo.