Two artworks by Li Rui, a professor at Beijing Forestry University(BFU)'s College of Art and Design, have been selected for the permanent collection of the Chinese Traditional Culture Museum & China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum following the 7th China Contemporary Arts and Crafts Biennale. As one of the 358 works selected from 720+ entries, Li’s works exemplify the modernization innovation of traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

The selected work "Tapestry: Dunhuang Seasons"(《织毯 敦煌四季》), inspired by Dunhuang murals, this silk, bamboo fiber, and New Zealand wool tapestry, condenses the millennial Silk Road civilization into 10+ intricate weaving processes. Its dynamic color transitions capture seasonal shifts while bridging ancient aesthetics with contemporary design.

"Cloisonné Censer: Auspicious Beasts"(《铜胎掐丝珐琅 福运兽耳炉》), co-created by Li Rui with Huang Jinyi, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, is the winner of the 2024 Baihe New Talent Award of China Arts Crafts Expo(CACE). This censer revives Ming-Qing imperial cloisonné techniques. Delicate filigree work and lotus motifs symbolize enduring fortune, achieved through traditional enameling and modern design optimization.

As a leading hub of the "100 Art Masters on Campus" initiative, BFU is developing a distinctive aesthetic education system that reflects its unique institutional characteristics. The College of Art and Design has pioneered industry-academia partnerships through this initiative, integrating intangible cultural heritage into curricula.

"These works honor ancestral wisdom while proving tradition's relevance in modern design," said Wang Chenyang, Party Secretary of the China National Arts and Crafts Museum. The acquisition, a rare honor given the museum's stringent standards, exemplifies BFU's model in cultural inheritance and contemporary innovation. The university plans to merge craft preservation with ecological and technological innovation, expanding cross-disciplinary programs to drive the creative transformation of China's intangible cultural heritage.

Written by Li Rui
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang