//www.chatlady-b.com -

Preface

“The Chinese dream not only represents the Chinese people's pursuit of happiness, but also echoes the aspirations of the people all over the world. In pursuing the Chinese dream, China will go hand in hand with all other countries to help them realize their dreams.”

2020 is the target year for China to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realize its first centenary goal. It is also the final year to eradicate absolute poverty. China will meet the poverty reduction targets set by the UN plan Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. On the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) holds the exhibition Building Dreams with Ingenuity: Folk Art Tells China's Poverty Alleviation Stories. Through folk arts of intangible cultural heritage, the exhibition showcases Chinese people's vivid practice of exploration for poverty reduction and shares China's successful experience in this respect, contributing Chinese wisdom and solution to sustainable development of mankind.

Chinese folk art inherits the artistic characteristics and cultural identity of the Chinese nation, and contains the values, wisdom and practical experiences of the nation. It is not only invaluable spiritual wealth of the Chinese nation, but also an important resource as intangible cultural heritage of the world. Created by the working people, folk art meets their demands of life and aesthetics. In a down-to-earth manner, the topics and contents reflect the everyday life, simple emotions and aesthetic pursuit of ordinary people.

The exhibition has four units, namely “Cutting Paper with Ingenuity”, “Painting with Ingenuity”, “Carving with Ingenuity” and “Creating with Ingenuity”. It features over 260 pieces of folk handicrafts of intangible cultural heritage from 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China. In vivid shapes, rich colors, and interesting and unique styles, the crafts epitomize the beauty of nature, life, culture and prosperity of the Chinese people, and express their pride and happiness in creating a better life and their values of pursuing virtue and progress. These works also convey Chinese people's aspiration for peace and prosperity and their pursuit of dreams.

Ingenuity builds dreams; grand beauty touches hearts. Let us appreciate the infinite charm of the Chinese traditional culture and build a magnificent dream of peace and common development for humanity.

Amb. Lin Songtian
President of the CPAFFC
Congratulations

“Congratulations to the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries for this online exhibit.

In past decades, we have witnessed China lift millions of its most vulnerable rural citizens out of extreme poverty.

As we reflect on this incredible accomplishment, as illustrated in these works, we also look to the road ahead.

Poverty is a dynamic and multidimensional phenomenon. We must continue our efforts to ensure the eradication of poverty in all forms for all people in China. The UN stands ready to work with the Government and people of China to protect the gains of the past as we walk the last mile of poverty alleviation together. Let us ensure that future development and growth is sustainable and leaves no one behind.”

Ms. Amakobe Sande

Interim United Nations Resident Coordinator in China
Unit I Cutting Paper with Ingenuity

As one of the most popular folk arts in China, paper cutting is a shining art symbol of folk culture in China. With a style favoured by the populace, it reflects the mentality, aesthetics and values of China's ordinary people. Each of the 77 pieces of paper cutting displayed in this part is a true portrayal of the people's everyday life. They are mostly about Chinese people's endeavours to eradicate poverty and the touching stories and outstanding members found in their practices.
Unit II Painting with Ingenuity

At present, rural revitalization in China is making strides forward as villages are prospering, society is stable and orderly, and people live and work in peace and content. Chinese rural residents are full of vigor and zeal in building their beautiful homes. It is against this backdrop that peasant artists are inspired to depict and praise the new era on an extensive range of subjects. This part selects 64 pieces of peasant paintings done with subtlety in ruggedness, elegance in heavy colors, and skillfulness in simplicity. Through every stroke of the brush, the artists express their love for a new life in a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
Unit III Carving with Ingenuity

This part showcases 56 pieces of sculptures which combine realistic and impressionistic styles. Figures, objects, and daily lives are reflected vividly despite limited sizes of the works. Connotations and artistic styles of the works fully embody the people-oriented Chinese cultural spirit and Chinese people's sense of happiness and attainment in their efforts to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
Unit IV Creating with Ingenuity

As a kind of life culture and aesthetics, folk art keeps advancing with the times and bringing forth new ideas in the process of inheriting and remolding traditions and creating new genres. Chinese folk artisans of the new era integrate traditional elements into modern aesthetics, explore and make use of the value of artistic works in contemporary life, and make the works more contemporary. This part exhibits more than 20 categories of folk art works of different shapes, unique styles and rich connotations, reflecting the thoughts and feelings of ordinary Chinese people, the pursuit of values and a beautiful vision for the future life.
Moments of Ingenuity

This part features 51 close-up photographs that capture the moves of hands when folk artists are crafting. They are a rescue record of traditional Chinese handicrafts on the verge of extinction. The aim is to encourage the whole society to pay attention to traditional crafts and craftsmen around us, particularly those in remote mountainous areas. Through these moments of ingenuity, the efforts of Chinese folk artists in preserving and inheriting traditional craftsmanship are known to more people. With “one master training a group of artisans”, the folk artists also help impoverished people in the local areas to find jobs by learning crafts, thus contributing their part to targeted poverty alleviation.
Co-organizers

Local Associations for Friendship with Foreign Countries: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, Shanxi Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Liaoning Province, Jilin Province, Heilongjiang Province, Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, Anhui Province, Jiangxi Province, Shandong Province, Henan Province, Hunan Province, Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chongqing, Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
About Like

Dear audience, you can vote for works you like in the four units of “Cutting Paper with Ingenuity”, “Painting with Ingenuity”, “Carving with Ingenuity” and “Creating with Ingenuity” without limit to quantity. One IP can only like one exhibit once on a daily basis. There is a like button in a heart shape below each piece of work. It will turn red once you click it, meaning that you have successfully voted for the works. The deadline for voting is November 24, 2020 and CPAFFC will award the most popular pieces of works based on the vote.