Artist from Taiwan gives tradition new life in Fujian

Huang Shou-kun, a lacquer artist from Taiwan, has become a recognized inheritor of the intangible Chinese cultural heritage in Fujian province.

Working from his studio in Luoyuan, Huang, 45, immerses himself in rural life. He is a master of lacquer techniques, creating art pieces and offering hands-on workshops.

Lacquerware, an ancient craft, involves using the natural sap of lacquer trees to coat and embellish objects.

Huang began his career in lacquer restoration at a museum in Taiwan. "To master lacquerware, I trained at the museum and later stayed on as a teacher," he said.

In 2016, Huang visited Fuzhou, Fujian province for the first time and was inspired by the mainland's supportive policies for Taiwan residents. As a descendant of people of southern Fujian, he felt a deep connection to his ancestral roots and decided to pursue his career in Fujian.

Huang, who aspires deeply connect his art to local culture, often explores ancient villages to draw inspiration from their architecture and regional peculiarities. "Craftsmanship shouldn't just stay in the workshop," he said. "Breathing new life into traditional crafts is the best way to preserve them."

Inspired by an ethnic drinking custom in Taiwan that celebrates unity through shared drinking vessels, Huang collaborated with a friend to create lianbei, a lacquer-embellished wooden sculpture featuring two cups carved from opposite ends of a single piece of wood. The design requires two people to drink simultaneously, symbolizing eternal friendship.

His friend from Quanzhou, Fujian province carves the wood, and Huang applies intricate lacquer designs, a gesture that he says represents the shared heritage and enduring friendship between Fujian and Taiwan.

Huang believes that the inheritance of cultural heritage lies with the younger generation. He plans to collaborate with universities to integrate research, teaching and production to encourage more young people to join in the preservation of traditional crafts.

Liu Boqian contributed to this story.