London(People's Daily)-The Chinese Design: Harmony in Diversity exhibition was launched at the Royal Mint Court in London on Monday.
As one of four China-themed exhibitions during the May 13-19 London Craft Week, the exhibition showcases the intricate craftsmanship and cultural heritage of China alongside apparel, pottery and lacquerware.
Exquisite Chinese pottery at the exhibition. (People's Daily/Xing Xue)
The vibrant and diverse clothing of the Han, Miao and Yi ethnic groups are featured at the Flower of Ethnic Costumes apparel segment.
The Flower of Pottery Art section features contemporary Longquan celadon and Jizhou kiln porcelain and the Flower of Lacquerware section delivers a reinvigorating blend of traditional lacquer techniques with celadon and historical artifacts.
Hundreds of exhibits and workshops are showcasing Chinese craftsmanship including porcelain, silverware, lacquerware, bamboo weaving, ethnic minority clothing and jewelry and Nanyin folk music from Southeast China's Fujian Province.
The exhibitions underscore the role of handicrafts in alleviating poverty, particularly through initiatives like the Mother's Needlework project.
The project recycles clothing into exquisite handicrafts, providing employment and training for women while supporting local economies and traditional craft sustainability.
Traditional crafts play a significant role in preserving culture, advancing China's rural revitalization and poverty alleviation efforts, said Zhao Fei, minister of the Chinese Embassy to the UK.
"Traditional crafts have made substantial contributions to the elimination of absolute poverty in China and provide successful models of green, low carbon and sustainable development, "he said.
Both China and the UK place great emphasis on preserving traditions and on that basis carrying forward innovation, Zhao said.
Guy Salter, the craft week chairman and founder, praised the Chinese content.
"China always brings something surprising, "he said. "But this time I think what is so special is to see the diversity from the different parts of China, the different people, the different traditions. "
What really mattered, Salter said, was"we're all coming together because we are creative and people can speak the same language wherever they come from. "
Craft week founder Guy Salter studies bamboo art. (Photo: People's Daily/Xing Xue)
London Craft Week invites partners from around the world to join an annual showcase of outstanding craftsmanship.
The weeklong event has attracted more than 750 manufacturers, designers, brands and galleries.
China boasts 43 items of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, ranking first in the world.
There are also 1, 557 Chinese cultural heritage projects and 3, 057 items of national intangible cultural heritage inheritance.
