Chinese handicraft art exhibition debuts in South Africa

A visitor views the exhibits during the "Belt and Road" International Handicraft Art Exhibition at University of Johannesburg Art Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nov. 29, 2024. The first stop of the "Belt and Road" International Handicraft Art Exhibition, themed "Dialogue with World Cultures," opened here on Friday. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

The first stop of the "Belt and Road" International Handicraft Art Exhibition, themed "Dialogue with World Cultures," opened in South Africa on Friday.

The inaugural event, hosted by Shanghai University in China and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa, will be displayed at the UJ Art Gallery until Jan. 25, 2025, after which it will travel to other destinations, including Kazakhstan, Sweden, Turkey, New Zealand, Australia, France and Italy, among others.

At the opening ceremony, Minister at the Chinese Embassy in South Africa Li Zhigang said the exhibition will help foster cultural exchanges and mutual understanding.

"Intangible cultural heritage is a treasure of human civilization, a precious wealth accumulated from diverse cultures over the long course of history. Since ancient times, painting and handicrafts have been a typical medium of communication between people around the world," Li said. "We look forward to more cultural and artistic exchanges and cooperation between China and South Africa in the future."

Federico Freschi, executive dean of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Johannesburg, said "handicrafts are not just objects but cultural treasures embodying history, tradition and creativity."

The exhibition showcases dozens of China's intangible cultural heritage skills, demonstrated by numerous inheritors. Divided into three sections -- Maritime Blossoms, Symbiosis of All Things and Endless Vitality -- it features a variety of traditional Chinese cultural items, including embroidery, paper cutting, kesi (silk tapestry), kites, nianhua (New Year paintings), silver pots and purple clay teapots, along with cross-genre intangible cultural heritage projects.