Foshan Folk Art Research Institute

The Foshan Folk Art Research Institute was established in 1956. It is a state-run professional institution integrating the transmission and protection of traditional Lingnan folk arts, research, creation, production, trade, tourism reception, cultural and artistic exchanges, and educational training.

• Company Name: Foshan Folk Art Research Institute (佛山市民间艺术研究社)
• Established: 1956
• Headquarters: Foshan (佛山)
• Business Scope: Research, creation, production and operation, trade, tourism reception, cultural and artistic exchange exhibitions

Introduction

Foshan (佛山) is one of China’s ancient four famous towns, renowned for its developed handicrafts. Its exquisite folk arts have a long history, believed to have originated from the Song Dynasty (宋代), with a strong local flavor and a prestigious reputation.

For over 50 years, the folk art creations of Foshan Folk Art Research Institute, including colorful lanterns, paper-cutting, woodblock New Year pictures, and autumn colors, have been popular both domestically and internationally. As a flagbearer for Lingnan folk art culture, the Foshan Folk Art Research Institute was designated as a National Cultural Industry Demonstration Base by the Ministry of Culture at the end of 2004.

Foshan folk art is characterized by its uniqueness. It employs various techniques such as cutting, carving, folding, molding, gluing, casting, and painting to create dozens of folk art pieces like paper-cuts, lanterns, New Year prints, paintings, and sculptures. These crafts are loved for their strong local flavor. Among them, Foshan’s traditional lantern-making art has four works included in the “Guinness World Records.”

The Foshan Folk Art Research Institute is a designated site for cultural and artistic tourism. It features Foshan’s largest local folk arts exhibition center, paper-cutting workshops, and other folk art studios, which are open to the public. Domestic and international visitors can observe, experience, and purchase traditional crafts from across the country while enjoying live demonstrations of Foshan folk art craftsmanship.

Key Artistic Features

Foshan Paper-Cutting 

Foshan paper-cutting is a renowned traditional folk art of China, originating in the Song Dynasty and flourishing in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has a history of over 800 years.

Originally, paper-cutting was done using scissors, later progressing to knife engraving. It is used for festive decorations and daily items, including window decorations, embroidery patterns, trademarks, gifts, and ornaments.

Foshan paper-cutting includes various types, based on materials and techniques, such as copper backing, paper backing, and silver writing. Using local resources like colored paper and copper foil, and techniques such as cutting, engraving, and carving, Foshan paper-cutting is diverse in style and highly decorative. It is known for its strict composition, delicate lines, rich colors, and bright golden and silver hues.

Foshan paper-cutting stands out in Chinese paper-cutting art, with works featured in numerous national art exhibitions and receiving awards. The giant paper-cutting mural “Dream of the Red Chamber” (红楼梦) is included in “China’s Famous Murals.” Foshan paper-cutting has become a popular art decoration and souvenir, enjoyed by people from all over the world.

Foshan Lanterns

Lanterns, locally known as “Deng Se” (灯色), are one of China’s main branches of traditional lantern art, with a characteristic of intricate beauty typical of Southern China. Records from the Ming and Qing Dynasties document their detailed creation.

Foshan lanterns are traditionally made by hand from bamboo strips and iron wire, which are shaped and then decorated with colorful silk fabrics, lace, tassels, and unique Foshan paper-cutting patterns or painted poetry and landscapes.

Foshan lanterns are a staple for festivals and celebrations. They have evolved from indoor artworks to large public display pieces, including massive dragons that can stretch up to thousands of meters, as well as architectural forms like pavilions, and lanterns representing folk stories, animals, flowers, and more. These lanterns are known for their exquisite craftsmanship and striking, colorful appearance by day, and their luminous, golden glow by night.

The Foshan Folk Art Research Institute has designed and created giant lanterns such as “Big Dragon,” “Flying Dragon,” and “Traditional Large Lanterns,” which have won several “world records.”

Foshan has earned the title of “Hometown of Colorful Dragons” (彩龙之乡) due to the global influence of its lantern art. Foshan’s lanterns, floats, and boats have even been featured on national postal stamps.

Foshan Autumn Colors

Foshan Autumn Colors (秋色) originated during the Jin and Wei Dynasties, peaking during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After the autumn harvest, people would express gratitude to the gods and nature for a good year, giving rise to the famous Foshan Autumn Colors Festival, known as “Chuqiu Se” (出秋色).

The Autumn Colors activities include both the competition and performance of Autumn Colors crafts. This folk entertainment festival, the largest in Lingnan (岭南), is famous for its vibrant and varied exhibitions.

Autumn Colors crafts are divided into categories such as lanterns, carriages, horse lanterns, floating lanterns, ground lanterns, water lanterns, and scenic lanterns, each made through techniques like assembly, sculpture, painting, music, dance, drama, acrobatics, and costume performances. These exhibitions are a dynamic blend of community creation, competition, and artistic performances, and are widely appreciated for their rural charm and authenticity.

Foshan is known as the “Home of Autumn Color Art” (秋色艺术之乡), and the Foshan Folk Art Research Institute has repeatedly held “Autumn Color Exhibitions” and “Autumn Color Parades” that have amazed audiences with their ingenuity.

Foshan Woodblock New Year Pictures 

Foshan woodblock New Year pictures originated in the Song Dynasty and have a history of over 700 years. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Foshan woodblock New Year pictures reached their peak, making Foshan one of the four major woodblock New Year picture centers in China, alongside Tianjin Yangliuqing, Suzhou Taohuawu, and Weifang Shandong.

Foshan woodblock New Year pictures typically feature door gods, New Year pictures, and deity images, with a variety of subjects that express people’s hopes and ideals. These artworks combine traditional crafts like paper-cutting, copper engraving, and woodcarving, using a palette of red, green, yellow, and black to create rich, glorious images. The technique of “red-dyeing” gives these pictures their vibrant color, which is believed to bring good luck and prevent corrosion.

The “everlasting red” of these works has earned them a reputation as symbols of good fortune.

Foshan Ceramics

Shiwai (石湾), located in Foshan, is known as the “Southern Ceramic Capital” (南国陶都). Shiwai ceramic art, commonly known as “Shiwai figurines” (石湾公仔), is praised as the “Pearl of Eastern Art” and holds an irreplaceable place in the history of Chinese ceramic art. By the Northern Song Dynasty, Shiwai ceramics were widely exported to Japan, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

Famous for its lifelike figurines and animal sculptures, Shiwai ceramics, especially the “Shiwai figurines,” are known for their realism and playful exaggeration, embodying a vivid, colorful style that reflects local culture and incorporates various cultural influences. The renowned poet Guo Moruo (郭沫若) praised Shiwai ceramics with the following verse: “Crafted with divine skill, Shiwai is a beautiful porcelain bay.”

Education and Training 

The Foshan Folk Art Research Institute provides training programs in various crafts, including lantern making, paper-cutting, lion head making, and ceramic sculpture. These programs offer participants the opportunity to learn traditional skills and techniques under the guidance of experienced artisans.

• Lantern-making Training: Foshan’s colorful lanterns were recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. The Institute has one national lantern master and two provincial lantern masters and offers regular lantern-making courses.

• Paper-cutting Training: Foshan paper-cutting was designated as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. The Institute has one national paper-cutting master and organizes continuous training courses while also collaborating with schools to pass down the art to young generations.

• Lion Head-making Training: Foshan’s lion head-making was included in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. The Institute has one national lion head master and one provincial lion head master. They offer regular training sessions to enthusiasts.

• Ceramic Sculpture Training: Shiwai figurine-making is famous worldwide. The training program covers forming and glazing techniques, helping students understand the properties of ceramic clay and sculpture methods.