＂Skill · Memory Nantong Blue Printing Exhibition＂ Opened

"Longevity and Wealth", "No. 1 Scholar", "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Prosperity", "Pine and Crane Extend the Years", one simple and beautiful vision after another bloomed on each piece of blue printed cloth exhibition. Yesterday (December 13), the printing and dyeing skills of the national intangible cultural heritage blue calico were moved to Donghua University, and the "Skills · Memory Nantong Blue calico Exhibition" was opened in the Shanghai Textile and Clothing Museum of Donghua University.

In the exhibition, the four parts of "memory, skill, tradition and innovation" present the traditional elegant charm and modern infinite vitality of blue calico to the audience. More than 100 pieces of traditional blue print products and modern design works, such as clothes, quilts, cloth, scarves, bags, dolls, etc., fully demonstrate the kungfu skills and cultural heritage of "blue and white, plain and elegant". Blue printed cloth is also called indigo cloth, commonly known as medicine patch cloth, watering cloth, etc. The blue printed cloth, with cotton cloth as the carrier, flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It combines practicality and artistry, and is famous for its blue, white, and simple elegance. The traditional printing and dyeing techniques of blue calico were included in the first national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006. In 2013, Nantong blue calico was approved as a product of geographical indication in China.

"A boy holds the top hat, and the children beside him want to grab" "Two phoenix walk through the peony flowers" "A crane is flying with a peach"... The craftsman creates a pure, beautiful and colorful art world between simple and simple blue and white. The blue printed cloth swaddling cloth and quilt cover with the pattern of "Five Poisons and Exorcism" bless the children's safety, health and good luck. The blue calico quilt covers of "No. 1 Scholar" and "No. 3 Scholar" hope that the children can win the championship and become No. 1 Scholar in high school. The patterns of "phoenix playing with peony", "He He Two Immortals" and "Qilin sending a child" imply that He He is full of beauty and gives birth to a son early. The quilt covers and cloth bags of "Happiness and Longevity" and "Heshou Longevity" are good wishes from the younger generation to the elder. Bian Xiangyang, curator of the Shanghai Textile Clothing Museum of Donghua University, said, "We integrate the protection, collection, inheritance and innovation of the intangible blue printed cloth into the campus of Donghua University, hoping to make more Donghua contributions to the inheritance and innovation of Chinese textile clothing culture."

The opening ceremony also vividly demonstrated the process flow of engraving, scraping and anti dyeing paste, dyeing, etc. The printing and dyeing technology of blue calico is the crystallization of the wisdom of the Chinese nation. Its 800 year history shows the creativity of the nation and the sustainability of traditional culture. Guo Yanping, a student of Sunrise School of Business Administration, who participated in the performance, carefully scraped anti dye paste on grey cloth through patterned plates. She said, "By experiencing the technology of scraping, printing and dyeing, I admire more the craftsmen who have inherited the Chinese clothing culture to this day. I hope that more people will participate to feel the charm of the intangible heritage technology, so that traditional printing and dyeing can be inherited and innovated in modern life."

The exhibition is co organized by Shanghai Textile and Clothing Museum, Nantong Blue Printed Cloth Museum and Nantong University Blue Printed Cloth Research Institute. The exhibition will last until January 13, 2025, free of charge.