Gourd pyrography gets increasingly popular (2)

In recent years, gourd pyrography has getting increasingly popular and attracts many fans. It can be seen in many antique markets, auctions and craft markets. Gourd pyrography is also called pyrography or “huo bi hua”. Artists paint on gourds with electric irons. Gourds have been given the meanings of “good luck and happiness” in traditional Chinese culture. Gourd pyrography originated in Song Dynasty. Emperor Kangxi in Qing Dynasty loved gourd art. He always asked his artists in court to make exquisite gourd artworks. This picture shows the work of the pyrography master Zhang Ai from Tianjin. Zhang majored in oil painting. Her masterpiece “Zhongkui” learned from traditional artworks and focused on relations between virtuality and reality, far and near, light and shadow. It is vivid and full of vitality. (CNS/Zhangyu)