Using raw lacquer as ink and clear water as rhythm, she lets transparent lacquer and mineral pigments blend and diffuse in water through techniques such as rotating and lifting, transforming into a one-of-a-kind 'water shadow painting' — Xinhua recorded Yuan Duanjiao's 'artistic magic' at the 'Silk Road at the Fingertips — China-Uzbekistan Women's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cooperation Forum'.
Key points of the report
- Born in 1988, Yuan Duanjiao chose to return home to work in the raw lacquer industry after graduating from university;
- Consulted experts and veteran lacquer farmers, focusing on cultivating improved lacquer tree varieties to raise both yield and quality;
- Has mastered multiple lacquering techniques, including biantu (varied coating), gold tracery, pattern raising, relief lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlay;
- Established an inheritor training base and an intangible cultural heritage workshop to train inheritors and enthusiasts;
- She has been successively awarded honorary titles including 'Arts and Crafts Master of Shaanxi Province' and 'Master Village Craftsperson of Shaanxi Province'.
Background
The report also introduces Pingli's industrial foundation: the county has 280,000 mu of lacquer groves, including 100,000 mu of high-yield groves, with selected improved varieties such as 'Dahongpao', 'Gaobachi' and 'Jinzhouhong', producing over 200 tons of high-quality raw lacquer annually; a local 'Lacquer Farmers' School' has trained more than 300 local technical personnel.