The opening ceremony of The Charm of the East – the Selected Suzhou Embroidery Artworks Exhibition, jointly organised by China Cultural Centre in Sydney and Yue Yuan Gallery & Decor, was successfully held on 21st July 2022 at China Cultural Centre in Sydney. Around 40 people participated in the opening ceremony including Mr. Xiao Xiayong, Director of China Cultural Centre and China National Tourist Office in Sydney, Mr. Robert Kok, the Councillor of the City of Sydney Council, Ms. Raphi Wei, the Founder of Yue Yuan Gallery & Decor, our friends from the local art community as well as reporters from Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily Online Australia, Southeast Net Australia, Australian Chinese Daily, and South World Media.
Ms. Aimme Zhou, an emerging Guzheng musician, performed numerous well-known Chinese repertoires, such as the “Mountain Stream“, and “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon“ and the audience was immersed in the Jiangnan atmosphere.
In the opening remarks, Mr. Xiao Xiayong said Suzhou embroidery is one of the four major embroideries in China and holds the great reputation of “National Fingertip Craftsmanship”. This exhibition features 36 delicately selected Su embroidery artworks and Kesi Round Fans, showcasing the exquisite yet elegant style of Suzhou Embroidery, the craftsmanship of the intangible cultural heritage inheritors, and the vitality of Suzhou as a modern city. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Australian audience to explore the glamour of this traditional skill and appreciate the continuous inheritance of craftsmanship of the folk artists to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples throughout the exhibition. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia. China Cultural Centre in Sydney will continue to make efforts with all walks of life in Australia through online and offline cultural activities, to present the long history and splendid culture of China and to promote the people-to-people exchange between our two countries.
Mr. Robert Kok highlighted that Sydney is a culturally inclusive city and expressed his thanks to China Cultural Centre in Sydney for bringing the exhibition with such rich Chinese traditional heritage to this city, which not only the locals can enjoy the exhibition, but also international visitors can grab the chance to see the exhibition. He believes this exhibition will strengthen the cultural ties between China and Australia. Considering the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, he expressed good wishes for the friendship between the two countries that may go ever stronger.
Ms. Raphi
Wei briefly introduced the features, history, inheritance and development of
Su Embroidery. She said it was pleased to cooperate with China Cultural Center to hold this Exhibition and hoped
that the exhibition could encourage the audience to have a deeper
understanding of the charm of Chinese intangible cultural heritage handicrafts
and explore the interest in the East art atmosphere. The Gallery was willing to play a significant role as a cultural bridge between China and
Australia.
Since the Qing dynasty, Su embroidery（苏绣）from Suzhou region, Xiang embroidery （湘绣）from Changsha region, Yue embroidery（粤绣）from Chaozhou region and Shu embroidery（蜀绣） from Chengdu region are reputed as the four major Chinese embroideries. Su embroidery with its vivid charm representing the graceful beauty of the regions south of the Yangtze River tells the stories for thousands of years through its fingertip craftsmanship. The artworks with various themes like landscapes, flowers, and animals demonstrate the beautiful patterns, ingenious designs, meticulous craftsmanship, lively needlework and elegant colours of Su embroidery. The creators not only inherit the traditional skills accumulated over two thousand years, but also keep the tradition abreast of the times with modern innovative design, highlight the strong vitality of the time-honored Su embroidery.
To better present the Exhibition, the exhibition space has been elaborately designed to highlight the artworks and create a traditional atmosphere of Jiangnan aesthetics with Chinese-style furniture, round fans and vases. The visitors are too impressed by the artworks to imagine these exquisite artworks are embroidered stitch by stitch.
When still facing the serious challenge by the pandemic, China Cultural Centre in Sydney makes use of local resources to make this exhibition possible which opens to the public free from 21st July to 19th August at the Centre’s exhibition hall.
