Guangzhou Embroidery, renowned as one of the four famous embroidery styles in China, is featured with folk art characteristics of southern China. As early as the Song Dynasty, Guangzhou embroidery craft came into everyday use, and later during the middle to late period of the Ming Dynasty, Guangzhou embroidery made a name for itself internationally. In the year of 2006, Guangzhou embroidery was listed as one of “China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritages”. To give our international scholars a chance to experience the brilliance of Guangzhou Embroidery close up, the SCUT International Office organized a tour of the Embroidery Arts and Crafts Co. Ltd. The visit took place on June 8th with over twenty scholars participating.

The Guangzhou Embroidery Arts and Crafts Co. Ltd, with a history of over 60 years, possesses a team of national masters, craft artists of provincial and municipal level, as well as a group of representative inheritors of Guangzhou embroidery. It is the only time honored factory of Guangdong Province that produces Guangzhou embroidery. A speech was delivered giving a brief introduction to the factory, followed by an English video about Guangzhou embroidery. Later, the foreign scholars had the chance to enjoy various pieces of embroidery art with introductions by craft artists. In the art gallery, there was a scaled-down version (at a ratio of 1:2) of “Summer Wind by the Sea”, a famous masterpiece which is currently being exhibited at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. There were a great number of original works in the gallery that have been deemed as art treasures and bestowed with national and provincial awards. After listening intently to the craft artists, none of the foreign scholars could conceal their admiration and appreciation of the exquisite beauty of Guangzhou embroidery’s millennium-old craftsmanship.  

In the artist workshop, foreign scholars met the national master Ms. LIANG Guikai, and the provincial craft artist Ms. WU Jieyi, and had the chance to closely observe their skillful and wonderful stitch work. They marveled at the dancing silk threads of different colors under nimble fingers and needles crossing ceaselessly on the satin cloth. Embroidery would never become art treasure without those indefatigable artists who spent days and nights on it. In the meantime, Ms. Liang and Ms. Wu’s introductions on the complex and distinctive needle works/stitch works left a deep impression on us all.

The One Day Visit is an annual event of the International Scholars Club, organized by the SCUT International Office. Through initiating various cultural activities, the Club aims to spread Chinese culture among SCUT foreign teachers and therefore enhance cross-cultural exchange and cooperation.      

Edited by Susan Wen

International Scholars Office

South China University of Technology