Hangzhou Asian Games | First in History! Song Yun and Elegance in the Flower Ware of Hangzhou Asian Games

Hangzhou, September 14th (Xinhua) - "Flowers may slowly wither, but floral arrangements can become a permanent commemoration. Every athlete bringing them back to their hometown is actually a cultural exchange between countries."

Entering the studio of Zhang Wen, the designer of the mascot and floral arrangements for the Hangzhou Asian Games and a teacher at the Professional Basic Teaching Department of the China Academy of Fine Arts, there are various shapes of mascots and their surrounding products on the walls, floors, and tabletops, creating a dazzling array. Various design drafts related to the mascots "Chen Chen", "Cong Cong", and "Lian Lian" were also pasted all over the wall, creating a unique background wall for the studio.

In the center of the wall, the display is the Hangzhou Asian Games award bouquet, which is full of fruitful results. The most eye-catching one is undoubtedly the flower set that first appeared in the award materials of previous Asian Games. Why is the award bouquet included in the floral arrangement? What is the inspiration for appearance coming from? What is the posture of the mascot on the flower? Designer Zhang Wen spoke eloquently.

Showcasing the Minimalist Aesthetics of Song Rhyme through the Shape and Meaning of Flower Goblets

The overall design of the flower vessel is inspired by the official kiln vase from the Southern Song Dynasty, and the undulating water patterns at the bottle mouth are taken from the poetic beauty of Zhejiang's mountains and waters. Huagu was a ceremonial and wine vessel used to celebrate victory during the Warring States period. In the Song Dynasty, it evolved into a decorative porcelain and was often used for flower arrangement.

"The artistic achievements of the Song Dynasty were largely reflected in porcelain, and the texture of the flower and goblet throughout the body reflects one of the important aesthetic concepts of the Song Dynasty - the simplicity of the Tao. This concept is very consistent with the minimalist aesthetic of modern design, which is also our original intention in design," said Zhang Wen.

In addition, the flower arrangement utilizes ergonomic principles in its design, collecting various data such as athlete's palm size, grip sensation, etc. to make the flower arrangement more lightweight and practical, providing athletes with a more comfortable experience.

Zhang Wenshun picked up the finished flower on the table and simulated several holding methods for the reporter. Although the hardness of the flower is very high, it will not feel difficult or uncomfortable to hold, embrace, or clamp under the armpit. "When holding the flower vase in hand, three mascots will be exposed exactly; the Gu body has three edges, which actually simulates the ears of the flower Gu and can also play a role in anti slip when held in hand."

Searching for the Pure Joy in Song Painting and Life

On this background wall, the reporter saw a version of the flower design draft, where the positions, sizes, and postures of the three mascots on the flower were different.

"We have made many version adjustments to the shape of the mascot on the flower vase. Previously, we completed 61 sports shapes for the 'Three Little Ones' based on the competition project to showcase the best sports state of each project. On the flower vase, we emphasized a celebration and joy of victory. In the end, we chose the presentation method of the mascot surging out from the mouth of the flower vase and stepping on the waves." Zhang Wen said.

In the process of selecting the posture of the mascot, Song Hua gave the design team a lot of inspiration. "The paintings of Li Tang, Liu Songnian, Ma Yuan, and Xia Gui, the four masters of the Southern Song Dynasty, and Su Hanchen, the painter of the Northern Song Dynasty, have greatly inspired the design of our mascots. The children in the painting have various movements, expressions, and movements, and the visuals are highly infectious. Seeing that scene, one can feel the vitality that artistic creators from a thousand years ago wanted to express, which is similar to what we are now."

Starting from reality, the design team also referred to the current life scenes of children, striving to find the purest form of joy. Zhang Wen recalled often picking up his daughter to and from school during the design period, observing the joyful state of the children running out of the campus after school.

"Children run out of the campus like a floodgate, feeling a sense of joy, joy, and innocence, similar to the joy of athletes winning awards at the Asian Games," he said.

The significance of carrying flowers is greater than the design itself

The flower vase is made from Dongyang woodcarving, a national intangible cultural heritage with a history of over 1400 years. The design team communicates with the inheritors of the intangible cultural heritage and repeatedly adjusts the material characteristics, carving accuracy, etc. to make the flower vase present the most ideal state.

After nearly half a year and more than ten versions of modifications, thousands of flower pieces were placed together, and the scene was very stunning. After repeatedly polishing details such as size, proportion, and comfort, the flower pieces finally revealed their true appearance as the countdown to the Hangzhou Asian Games approached one month. Zhang Wen recently visited the production site in Dongyang and completed the production of over 7000 floral vessels required for the Asian Games.

Zhang Wen and Huang Xiaoming, a representative inheritor of Dongyang woodcarving, took a group photo at the production site. Respondents provide pictures

In Zhang Wen's view, design is about seeking changes in subtle aspects, and when the design of flower vessels is integrated with Dongyang woodcarving craftsmanship, its significance far exceeds the design itself. He hopes that each Asian Games flower vessel filled with the beauty of Song Dynasty can allow more people from countries and regions to understand and feel Zhejiang and Chinese culture.

"Flowers are not just souvenirs, they can also be a form of cultural exchange and aesthetic communication. We hope that athletes from all over Asia can experience our dedication," he said.

Image: Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Zhongzhe