Inheriting the essence of culture and creating a sustainable future
Traditional craftsmanship and sustainable materials
CCCDPS. CHEN LI FAN | Art & Sustainable Craftsmanship
CHEN LI FAN
Using intangible cultural heritage as a medium, his work draws inspiration from living plants and local sites, transforming them into a contemporary artistic language. The work is a dialogue between the senses, memory, and culture, hoping to resonate with viewers, allowing them to experience the connection between nature, the environment, and themselves, much like identifying an everyday plant.
I create contemporary art through techniques like velvet. Unlike those who focus solely on craft as a technique or form, my work is grounded in research. I strive to unravel, document, and publish cultural contexts, enabling the understanding and dissemination of craft across languages and cultures. For me, publishing is an extension of my knowledge system and artistic practice.
As a mother of three, I have a softer perspective in my work, and out of concern for the environment and the future of the next generation, I consistently choose sustainable materials. My work not only addresses themes such as "truth and falsehood" and "ephemeral and eternal," but also seeks to leave behind a cultural legacy that can be documented and passed down, allowing traditional crafts to be reborn in the contemporary era.
Intangible Cultural Assets Crafts
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Velvet Craft
Flower entanglement craft
The flowers are made of silk and copper wires. The velvet strips are made in seven steps, including arranging, brushing, tying, cutting, rolling, trimming and tying. The whole thing looks fluffy. Today, there are still velvet flower ornaments used in the wedding of the emperor and empress in the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Traditionally, silk is used, but Chen Lifan uses rayon yarn, a sustainable material with FSC certification, to study local materials. Detailed research content can be found in the article
The flowers, made of paper, thread and metal wire, are assembled after the pieces are cut and twisted, giving the whole a shiny and bright appearance. They were used as brooches to adorn the Olympic team in 2024.
There are many types of materials used according to the techniques, and Chen Lifan uses rayon silk, which is a sustainable material with FSC certification.
Flower Craft
The caltrop paper is soft to the touch, with a velvety surface, easy to dye and shape, and more similar to flowers than other materials. It was once known as the best material for making flowers. The historical origin of this craft can be traced back to the "Ancient and Modern Notes" written by Cui Bao of the Jin Dynasty. The book records that the concubines of Qin Shihuang wore five-colored caltrop seeds in their hair. It has a history of more than 2,000 years.
Kingfisher Feather Craft
It consists of three parts: the body, the jade feather and the decorative materials. The body is mostly made of gold, silver, copper and paper. The metal body is made using techniques such as filigree and inlay, while the jade feather is fixed on the body through steps such as selecting jade, arranging jade and pasting. It is matched with decorative materials such as pearls and corals, showing the exquisiteness and magnificence of its craftsmanship.
Traditionally, emerald feathers are used, but Chen Lifan uses rayon yarn, a sustainable material with FSC certification, to study non-animal materials. Detailed research content can be found in the article
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