The New Era Youth Lacquer Painting Academic Invitational Exhibition, a sub-event of the 2024 Contemporary Art Innovation Exhibition, is now on display at the Nantong Modern Art Museum.

The exhibition features 47 lacquer paintings by 24 young artists, showcasing diverse themes such as portraits, landscapes, and flora and fauna. The works reflect the contemporary evolution of Chinese lacquer painting, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern creativity.

Visitors can admire unique pieces that incorporate elements like tai chi, yin-yang, odd and even numbers, and geometric shapes such as circles and squares. Some artworks also combine traditional and modern techniques, including painting and inlaying, demonstrating the artists' innovative approaches and deep understanding of lacquer art.

Lacquer painting, a medium deeply rooted in Chinese culture, merges ancient techniques with modern aesthetics. Using natural lacquer as the primary material, it incorporates elements like gold, silver, lead, tin, and organic materials such as eggshells, shells, stones, and wood. Techniques include carving, layering, sculpting, painting, and polishing, all contributing to its rich and timeless artistic appeal.

A visitor admires lacquer paintings at the Nantong Modern Art Museum. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Lacquer paintings with different styles are showcased at the Nantong Modern Art Museum. [Photo/Nantong Daily]