Indigo Dyeing from the Blue —The Silk Road Textile Dyeing Enters Hong Kong Exhibition

Exhibition: Indigo Dyeing from the Blue — The Silk Road Textile Dyeing Enters Hong Kong

According to Zhuangzi, ‘Heaven and Earth possess great beauty, yet they do not speak. The four seasons follow clear patterns, yet they do not argue. All things have their inherent principles, yet they do not explain.’ With this passage as its inspiration, this exhibition explores the profound beauty and principles of Chinese traditional silk printing, known as Ranxie, and its exceptional craftsmanship: Jiaoxie (tie-dye), Laxie (wax-resist dyeing), Huixie (ash-resist dyeing), and Jiaxie (clamp-dyeing). Through these techniques, we unveil the rich cultural heritage of China and its ancient textile artistry.

Join us as we celebrate the interconnectedness of cultures along the Silk Road, where Ranquan played a vital role, and discover the unspoken beauty that transcends language and time.

Details about the exhibition:
Exhibition Period: 30 May - 12 June 2024 ; Monday - Sunday
Time: 09:00am – 07:00pm
Main exhibition venue: PolyU Wong Man and Tang Kit Wah Global Student Hub
Exhibition sub-venues: PolyU Pao Yue-kong Library Podium*, Li Ka Shing Tower podium, Jockey Club Auditorium foyer, Shaw Sports Complex, Hotel ICON lobby

Teachers, students and friends from all walks of life are welcome to visit PolyU! To register for workshops, seminars and guided tours, please click here.

*All exhibitions are open to public, except those in the library.

Please click here for the Chinese (Simplified) version.

Programme

Seminar

After the Rain Clears and Clouds Break, such Colors will Prevail: A Discourse on Traditional Chinese Colors and Silk Printing Techniques

Date: 31 May 2024 (Friday)
Time: 10:00am - 11:00am
Venue: Room Y302, PolyU
Language: Putonghua

Ranxie Techniques: twist-dyeing, wax-resist dyeing, clamp-dyeing, and ash-dyeing. In this workshop, Prof. Guan will teach dyeing techniques for participants to create their unique works.

Workshop

Professor GUAN Lansheng from Beijing Union University will provide on-site explanations of the significant works to the audience.

Guided Tour

GUAN Lansheng, a professor at Beijing Union University and visiting professor at Lanzhou Jiaotong University, is an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage 'Tie-dyeing Technique.' In 2015, he established the Silk Road Tie-dyeing Art Museum and became its curator. GUAN has led national projects, including those funded by the National Social Science Foundation and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's 'Intangible Cultural Heritage+' Poverty Alleviation program. For eight years, he oversaw the Ministry of Culture's 'Training Program for Inheritors of Intangible Cultural Heritage - Tie-dyeing Workshops.' GUAN's Tie-dyeing works were showcased at the Eleventh National Fine Arts Exhibition. He has published over 20 research papers and authored three specialized publications, receiving over 30 utility model patents.

Artist Bio