It is impossible to describe, in one blog post, all we saw when we visited China. So it's a good thing I'm limited here to photos containing the color yellow, because we saw everything. Well, it felt like everything. China is an immense country. The only countries in the world larger than China are Russia, Canada and the USA. So you know we didn't see everything. We did, however, see a lot. Our cruise-tour with Viking River Cruises covered a lot of territory, a lot of history, and a lot of culture -- three things China possesses in abundance. Right now, for Mellow Yellow Monday, I'd like to share three kinds of Chinese art with you. Before this trip, we knew about Chinese jade carvings, of course, and we even knew about Chinese silk carpets. We didn't, however, know the Chinese have perfected needlework and made it an art form. At first glance, the picture of the two dancing cranes appears to be a painting. Close up, the picture of the mischievous fox shows this art for what it is, incredibly fine silk (a lot of it yellow) worked with a delicate needle. In the third picture, we see a large silk carpet on the wall of a carpet factory. In front of it are baskets and jars of dye, and I think the second from the right might be the yellow dye, but I don't really know. I do know a yellow-gold wall forms a spectacular background for the carving of birds and flowers in black and white jade.
10 comments:
The delicate work involved in these is quite wonderful. I like them but I think I like the one of the fox more than the others which is rude of me. Astounding that human beings can produce such beauty with qa needle and silken thread.
Not rude at all, Julie, thanks for commenting. (I think I like the one of the fox best, too.)
K
The birds and fox are just so glorious and expressive. I've been to China, actually Hong Kong twice and the artwork there is second to none. These shots are beautiful
Beautiful work of art. I'd like to learn that, I hope I have the time. :)
Happy MYM!
Liz @ MLC
Such incredible details in all of these!
Thanks, Linnea. A positive comment on my pictures (which really are just snapshots) is, coming from a photographer like you, a real pleasure to receive. Even if I had bought myself a Nikon instead of a power-lift reclining chair, I could never take pictures like yours. Thanks again.
K
The Chinese can do almost anything! They can even make a portrait by cutting papers! I'm going there next month and will be on the lookout for this..A painting on a silk, wow!! Beautiful!
Being an animal lover, the birds and fox are my favorites too. But they are all beautiful pieces of artwork.
As you say, Kay, covering China in a blog is as impossible as covering the States. I've been in and out of there (China) since 1985 and still have a lot I want to explore. Come to think of it, although I've been to just about every state, I want to explore a lot of the USA still too! And then there's the rest of the world... oh dear... so many places, so little time! These are fine shows of Chinese talent for detailed work and for the mellow yellow theme! Thanks!
Francisca -- I'm sorry if I led you to think the crane picture is a painting on silk. It looks like a painting at first, but is actually done in very delicate needlework, the same as the fox picture. I think it's amazing.
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