Sheets, bags, curtains, and other traditional folk items featuring Anting Blue Calico are showcased at the exhibition held on Anting ancient street in Jiading district from Aug 18 to Feb 18, 2023. There are various patterns of Anting Blue Calico objects, such as plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums, magpies, and the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower. [Photo/WeChat account: sh-jiading]
Titled "Blue and White Imprint", the Anting Blue Calico Inheritance and Innovation Exhibition kicked off at Anto Gallery on Anting ancient street in Shanghai's Jiading district on Aug 18, and will last until Feb 18, 2023.
The exhibition showcases nearly 1,000 pieces of traditional folk items and nearly 500 pieces of multi-material cultural and creative products consisting of innovatively designed new-pattern fabrics and daily necessities. The exhibits were all collected by Hu Sufen, an Anting Blue Calico inheritor.
Various cultural experience activities, such as an immersive experience activity of Anting Blue Calico dyeing technique, will be held during the exhibition with the purpose of combining the intellectual property rights of the culture and tourism industry – Anting ancient street and Anting Blue Calico, and injecting new vitality into Anting's productive protection of the ICH, according to a general manager of an Anting culture and tourism company.
Originating in Jiading district's Anting town, the dyeing technique of Anting Blue Calico was included in the second batch of the Shanghai intangible cultural heritage item list in 2009.
A table cloth over 3 meters long is on display at the exhibition, and integrates the Anting Blue Calico dyeing technique with Chinese calligraphy, Guizhou's batik, and handmade fabric flowers. [Photo/WeChat account: sh-jiading]