Cultural trend turns antiques into modern icons in China

Young cultural creators in China are turning antiques into modern icons, bringing millennial heritage closer to life through products that are both unique and imbued with tradition.

Surprise gift boxes with traditional Chinese cultural elements designed by Zhengzhou. (Photo: Provided by Zhengzhou)

At the museum's cultural and creative products display area, miniature versions of this rhino designed as blind boxes have quickly become top-selling souvenirs.

Each gift box may contain a rhinoceros with a blue and white ceramic motif, perhaps inspired by Sichuan spicy hotpot or decorated with hibiscus - the symbolic flower of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, China.

The past comes alive in every touch

These creative and unique products are the work of Zhengzhou - a designer and coordinator of creative cultural products born in the 1990s.

“Traditional Chinese culture is an endless treasure. Through cultural products, we want to convey the solemn aspect of traditional culture in a more vivid and approachable way,” Zhengzhou told the Global Times .

The designer’s creative journey began in 2019, after a visit to the Sanxingdui Museum in Chengdu. In front of the ancient bronze statues, he came up with the idea of ​​recreating the image of a standing statue into a sitting version, with bulging eyes and big ears, both humorous and modern.

Based on museum products, traditional cultural copyrights and Sichuan's regional characteristics, Zhengzhou and his team are constantly developing new products. For him, the goal is not simply to create trendy items.

“Creative design allows for exaggeration while still maintaining the spirit and character of the original artifact. By creating cultural icons that contain emotional content and depth, we hope that the younger generation can easily access and feel the breath of thousand-year-old tradition,” he shared.

“The cultural vessel”

In Tianjin, northern China, at a recent cultural fair, more than 1,000 souvenir boxes were sold out on the first day of launch.

Inside each box is a model of Xiao Zi Zai inspired by the famous 11-faced clay statue of Guanyin at Douli Temple - one of three remaining Liao Dynasty (916–1125) temples in China, chosen as the filming location for the hit game Black Myth: Wukong .

The designer of this unique model is Ngo Dich - an expert in planning and coordinating cultural products of this ancient pagoda.

His designs remain faithful to ancient sculpture and regional cultural identity, but are reinterpreted as an emotional symbol associated with modern life.

Thanks to that, the statue is no longer simply a decorative item, but becomes a "cultural container" - a place to contain emotions and connect souls.

The souvenir model of Tieu Tu Tai was inspired by the 11-sided clay statue of Quan Am at Dau Le Pagoda. (Photo: Provided by Ngo Dich)

Sharing the same view with designer Trinh Chau, Ngo Dich said: "The biggest goal of making creative cultural products is to reactivate ancient cultural values, bringing them into the daily lives of modern people."

From practical experience, he realized that to create an attractive cultural product, the first thing is to understand the traditional culture to preserve the original spirit in the design. Besides, it is also necessary to grasp the aesthetic trends and tastes of today's youth.

In addition, connecting with users is also very important. He often uses short videos to tell the journey of creating products from sketch to completion. This helps viewers feel the beauty of traditional culture more closely.

Mr. Ngo Dich shared: "When people understand where the product comes from and how it is made, they will no longer find traditional culture distant. On the contrary, they will be more curious, interested and approachable."

Once a niche interest, creative cultural products have now become a popular consumer trend thanks to growing interest in traditional culture, especially the Guochao (modern Chinese style) wave.

According to China Central Television (CCTV), many museums and design companies are now actively recruiting cultural creators. They not only know how to create beautiful products, but also understand how to market and manage products effectively.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/trao-luu-van-hoa-bien-co-vat-thanh-bieu-tuong-hien-dai-o-trung-quoc-320489.html