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42/Our Community

features flowers and landscapes or
follows specific patterns, he wants
to do new inventions with Su em-
broidery.

‘I am a big fan of ancient Chi-
nese poetry and paintings, and I
find inspiration from them. I also
develop ideas from daily life ele-
ments like cloud shapes and TV
programmes,’ Zhang says.

Inspired by a TV programme
about astronomy, Zhang created
an artwork titled ‘Starry Sky’ in
2016. He applied over 20 tradi-
tional needlework techniques that
were on the verge of being lost to
this modern artwork. The work is
now being exhibited at the World-
Skills Museum in Shanghai, the
first museum showcasing profes-
sional skills worldwide.

Zhang, who used to be a teacher
at Suzhou Art & Design Technol-
ogy Institute, has also become an
inspiration for others.

‘I have a male student in my
class, and he told his parents about Xu Wen-ying is teaching her young students. (Photo courtesy of Xu Wenying Embroidery
our
oung students. (Photo c
Xu Wen-ying is teaching her y
f Xu Wenying Embroider
y
y o
tes
my embroidery. I was truly shocked Studio )
Studio )
when he successfully convinced
his parents to let him choose Su dery courses for people to experi-
embroidery,’ he says. ‘I used to think that young ence and learn the skill. Most are
women nowadays are unwilling university students in their 20s and
He also observes an increas- to learn Su embroidery and prefer 30s.
ing interest in embroidery among working. I am surprised that many
young people. young people still want to create The youngest student is a
their own textile product,’ Xu says. 12-year-old girl, Dai Ruiwen, who
‘I think it’s good because more takes a four-hour high speed train
young people are keeping this cul- Xu is now running Su embroi- ride from Tianjin to learn embroi-
tural heritage alive, so it won’t dis-
appear,’ the master says.

With over 40 years of experi- ‘It is a wonderful thing to see so many young
ence in Su embroidery, Xu Weny-
ing, an arts and crafts master from people becoming more interested in
Suzhou, also finds more young embroidery,’
people learning embroidery at her
studio.