Magical Craftsmanship of Suzhou, The

Lanterns evoke a feeling of warmth, welcome, hospitality and community. Lighting up the night through different colours, shapes and sizes - from the common rabbit lanterns adored by children to the sublime and complex ones that are more fittingly described as floats - Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu province was a centre for their manufacture for more than 1,500 years. Drawing from traditional architecture that can be found in Suzhou's renowned classical gardens, Wang Xiaowen has been making lanterns for more than 50 years. The only national-level inheritor of this regional craft, he is now faced with its inevitable dimming as lanterns are overshadowed by electric light. Believing that handmade lanterns can still inspire city dwellers, he has been working on the ultimate legend of Suzhou lanterns: the "10,000-cut silk lantern", which combines paper-cutting skills with lantern craft to create a translucent effect.

Exploring artisan techniques passed down across millennia, director Zengtian Sun's poetic documentary details the beauty and inspiration of lantern craftsmanship that has managed to survive the greatest shift Chinese culture has ever experienced.

Mandarin language, English and simplified Chinese subtitles.

Show Times
Trailer
Details

Saturday, 20th August

11:20

Monday, 22nd August

11:20

Wednesday, 24th August

11:20

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Event: Special event screening, complimentary & discount tickets do not apply
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