From "Panpan" and "Wuyang" to "Jiangnan Memories" - The Memory of the Asian Games in Mascots
From Beijing, Guangzhou to Hangzhou, the memory of the Asian Games spans 33 years.
In 1990, the Beijing Asian Games. After the reform and opening up, China held its first comprehensive international sports competition, sending a signal of openness to the world. The mascot panda "Panpan" has a simple and full image, showcasing the new era atmosphere of Chinese people: curiosity, boldness, and daring to fight.
In 2010, the Guangzhou Asian Games. At that time, China, which had become the world's second largest economy, returned to rationality after experiencing the surging economic waves. With the "Five Rams" mascot of "harmony, happiness, and completeness", it interpreted the beautiful wishes of "auspiciousness, harmony, happiness, and completeness".
In 2023, the Hangzhou Asian Games. The Liangzhu Ancient City Site, West Lake, and the Beijing Hangzhou Grand Canal, these three major world cultural heritages have been transformed into "memories of Jiangnan", transmitting to the world a contemporary China with cultural confidence, warmth, and innovative development
An Asian Games is also a cultural event. Looking back at previous Asian Games events, when the competition on the field is frozen, the cultural charm contained in Asian Games events shines brightly.
"If the Beijing Asian Games introduced the world to a China that has gone from mystery to diversity and openness through 'Panpan', the Guangzhou Asian Games conveyed beautiful blessings to the world through 'Five Rams', and the Hangzhou Asian Games wanted to show the world the poetic charm of Jiangnan and feel the calmness and confidence that China should have today." said Zhang Wen, the chief designer of the mascot for the Hangzhou Asian Games and a teacher at the China Academy of Fine Arts.
![From "Panpan" and "Wuyang" to "Jiangnan Memories" - The Memory of the Asian Games in Mascots](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/38f18e2954f425fe9dd89635358da4ac.jpg)
The design team positions the Asian Games as a "gathering party" and hopes that each participant can leave beautiful memories. Therefore, the mascot design hopes to return to individual feelings.
In Zhang Wen's studio, the design manuscript of "Jiangnan Memories" jumps between the walls, desks, and bookcases. The design team underwent 6 major revisions and 20 minor revisions, presenting the three mascots of "Congcong", "Lianlian", and "Chenchen" to the public.
"As the most important and direct visual image element of the Hangzhou Asian Games, the mascot should reflect the overall style of the Hangzhou Asian Games, be creative and approachable, and consider factors such as production materials, 3D presentation effects, and whether there is extensive market development space." said Song Jianming, Director of Visual Image Design for the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Considering the dimensions of theme, artistry, innovation, technology, and affinity, the judges selected "Jiangnan Memories" from 4633 works based on these standards, which can be widely loved by the public and recognized by domestic and foreign design peers, inherit historical context, and conform to international aesthetic trends.
Congcong, from the Liangzhu culture, has a calm personality and a "divine, human, and animal face pattern" on its forehead. It excels in both power and traditional projects, symbolizing fearlessness and transcendence of oneself; "Chenchen" from the Grand Canal has an ancient bridge and cave on its forehead, specializing in speed oriented and ball sports, symbolizing the spirit of exploration to ride the wind and waves and bravely stand at the forefront; The "Lotus" from West Lake has a gentle personality and is skilled in technical and water sports. The lotus like patterns on her head are intertwined and connected, symbolizing the interconnection of all things, openness and inclusiveness
Three mascot images with a sense of future embody the humanistic connotations of a city and interpret three uplifting and enterprising spirit of the times.
![From "Panpan" and "Wuyang" to "Jiangnan Memories" - The Memory of the Asian Games in Mascots](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/9ee86bfa57f0c50d61d73131675336e5.jpg)
"We hope to return to the commonalities and roots of humanity, so that the expression of mascots resonates with the spiritual needs of the times and matches people's expectations for beautiful things." Zhang Wen said, hoping that in the future, when people recall the Hangzhou Asian Games, they will remember this beauty.