Macao exhibition traces 3,000 years of Chinese glassmaking

MACAO, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- A fleeting flower bloom finds lasting form in glass at an exhibition in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), tracing more than 3,000 years of Chinese glassmaking.

"Luminous Brilliance: The Artistry of Zibo Liuli" at the Poly MGM Museum brings together nearly 180 ancient and contemporary examples of liuli, or Chinese art glass. Its opening ceremony was held on Thursday.

The sculpture "Eternity," by Liu Yuan and Wang Tongqiang, captures a short-lived cereus blossom in violet and blue glass. The artists heated the material over a flame, pulling and bending it into petals before it cooled and hardened, according to the museum's exhibition guide.

Other exhibits include eye-patterned beads from the Warring States period and Qing dynasty imperial glassware.

The exhibition draws on the traditions of Zibo, a glassmaking center in east China's Shandong Province. Vice Mayor Guo Qing said the city's industry now spans materials research, design, production and cultural tourism, with artisans practicing techniques including glassblowing and carving.

Organizers include the National Museum of China, China Poly Group and the Zibo Ceramics and Glass Museum. The exhibition is free and runs through March 31, 2027.