May Day Event Preview | Artistic Charm, Floral Shadows, and a Poetic, Picturesque Stroll

The cyanotype process, also known as the ferricyanide (iron‑prussian blue) printing method, is most commonly referred to as blueprint printing. This fundamental photographic process produces a white image with blue midtones and shadow areas, and it can be used to create photographs on photographic paper, starch‑pasted cloth, or other substrates, employing either a negative or a transparent positive.

Beautiful shards of porcelain are themselves exquisite decorative elements; arranging them in a deliberate pattern on the wall transforms them into one-of-a-kind “artworks.” Any broken pieces that get damaged during the installation can be collected and rearranged into mosaic panels, allowing you to create stunning tile-based artworks with an array of colors and shapes.

Using fragments of blue-and-white porcelain as a medium for artistic creation both revitalizes traditional craftsmanship and sustains cultural memory. The motifs of blue-and-white porcelain embody the essence of Chinese decorative art, and fragment‑based collage allows historical symbols to be woven into contemporary narratives, evoking a shared cultural identity. Through deconstruction and reassembly, these porcelain shards transcend the constraints of conventional forms, giving rise to a visual language that blends classical elegance with a modern sensibility.

Incense pendants, as a traditional handicraft, embody rich cultural significance and symbolic meaning. Typically crafted with exquisite care, they feature a wide array of auspicious motifs—such as the dragon and phoenix bringing good fortune or lotus blossoms in full bloom—enhancing the artistic charm of one’s living space. Whether hung at home or in a vehicle, they serve as elegant decorative accents. During production, fragrances are often infused into these pendants; their subtle aroma not only purifies the air but also fosters a serene, harmonious ambiance, helping to relax the mind and savor moments of tranquility.   

“Relief” was originally a Western art term that, with the spread of Western learning to China in modern times, was introduced into the Chinese language and has since become a widely used artistic term. The Chinese translation “relief” reflects the fact that most relief works are executed using the sunken‑ground technique, with the image projecting outward as if floating above the background; hence the name. Although ancient China did not have the term “relief,” its sculptural tradition placed great emphasis on relief techniques.

The Song‑dynasty treatise Yingzao Fashi records three terms—“tidi toutu,” “tidi yin qi,” and “tidi qi tu”—which correspond to three distinct relief techniques: “tidi toutu” is what modern practitioners commonly call “openwork carving”; “tidi yin qi” is what is usually referred to as “low relief” (though many today mistakenly label it “high relief”); and “tidi qi tu” encompasses both “relief” and “deep relief.” Looking back at the evolution of relief art worldwide, we can see that it has continuously developed through inheritance, appropriation, and innovation. Artists from diverse civilizations, ethnic groups, and historical periods have all made noteworthy contributions to the advancement and exploration of relief sculpture. Undoubtedly, the cumulative achievements and practical experiences of humanity as a whole have laid a solid foundation for the future progress of this art form.

The round fan, also known as the silk fan, gauze fan, happy‑together fan, or satin palace fan, is a traditional Chinese craft. It is circular in shape, and its surface is often adorned with embroidery, hand‑painting, and other decorative techniques, depicting landscapes, pavilions, figures, flowers, birds, and elegant poetic verses.

The dried‑flower round fan takes naturally air‑dried botanicals as its soul, capturing the timeless beauty of roses, daisies, baby’s breath, and more on its simple, elegant surface. The delicate veins of each petal are crisply rendered—softly hued in powdery pink or pale goose yellow, or richly saturated in deep crimson or indigo—creating a poetic tableau that fits snugly in the palm. With each gentle swing, it seems to release the earthy, woody fragrance long sealed within time, exuding a lightness that carries an understated classical grace. A dried‑flower round fan is a cross‑disciplinary dialogue between natural aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship: it both honors the millennial cultural imagery of the Eastern round fan—“fanning cool breezes, veiling faces, and conveying emotions”—and, through the “timeless” quality of dried flowers, imbues it with a modern philosophical resonance.

The CPC Central Committee has decided that, beginning after the 2025 National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and continuing through July, a nationwide campaign will be launched to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the CPC Central Committee’s Eight‑Point Decision on Improving Party and Government Conduct. This educational initiative was personally proposed and meticulously planned by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and it constitutes a key priority in this year’s Party‑building work. Many ancient couplets from government offices, inscriptions at temples honoring sages, quotations from political thinkers, and celebrated verses by upright officials all embody the traditional Chinese ideals of governance, the people‑centered ethos, a strong sense of self‑discipline, and a spirit of proactive dedication. These constitute a treasured legacy of our nation’s history, carrying significant value for preserving tradition, purifying official conduct, and revitalizing the country. This exhibition is closely aligned with current political themes, exploring the profound cultural significance of diligence and integrity from the perspective of China’s fine traditional culture. While introducing visitors to the rich heritage of classical couplets, it also enables them to appreciate the subtle yet powerful influence of the unyielding moral character and incorruptible spirit exemplified by scholars and virtuous officials throughout the ages.

This exhibition is divided into five sections, comprehensively presenting Tang Xianzu’s life and achievements, his accomplishments as a playwright, his cultural influence, and his enduring contemporary relevance, all supported by meticulous historical materials.