On May 9th, the "Radiant Brilliance: Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition" kicked off at the Wenhui Hall of Guangzhou Cultural Park. The exhibition brings together the treasures of four Lingnan intangible cultural heritages: jade carving, jewelry making, wiry enamel, and antique restoration techniques. The exhibition runs from May 9th to May 19th, with six young inheritors of intangible cultural heritage showcasing their skills at the event.

At the opening ceremony, the organizer from the Guangzhou Liwan District Youth Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritors Association, one of the hosting units, stated that the exhibition gathers artworks from core members of the association, showcasing the unique understanding and innovation of young inheritors of intangible cultural heritage.

"Through this exhibition, we hope to further stimulate public attention and passion for intangible cultural heritage, encouraging more people to participate in the inheritance and protection of our intangible cultural heritage," she said. 

At the event (Photo: Clarice)

Xiao Lijun, a master of wiry enamel, introduced the craft to GDToday reporter: "Traditional wiry enamel involves complex processes such as wire drawing, soldering, firing, grinding, and gilding to create traditional handicrafts. However, at the event, we can quickly create beautiful and delicate accessories using UV glue commonly used for nail art. Even novices without handicraft experience can make a pair of exquisite wiry enamel earrings for Mother's Day."

Zhan Yuexin, a craftsman specializing in precious metal jewelry making, introduced her proudest work exhibited at the heritage exhibition, the "Lustrous Moonlight: Orchid Flame Conch Bead", a rare white conch bead brooch. "The piece is hand-carved from wax, with a honeycomb base and a dynamic shape. The orchid design is ingenious, with clear layers of petals and exquisite details, as if you can smell its elegant fragrance. The starting bid in the market exceeds one million RMB."

"Lustrous Moonlight: Orchid Flame Conch Bead" （Photo provided by the interviewee)

In addition to the exhibited works, Zhan is also planning to collaborate deeply with master embroiderers from Guangdong to design jewelry incorporating Lingnan intangible cultural heritage elements. "Years of experience in the jewelry industry and overseas trade have given me a new understanding of jewelry. Besides setting precious gemstones, the functionality and artistry of jewelry accessories are equally important. Collaborating with Lingnan embroidery masters will allow us to infuse the essence and core of Lingnan culture into our designs and spread it to the world through each piece of jewelry."

The design draft of Lingnan embroidery jewelry（Photo provided by the interviewee)