Chen Yinghua's embroidery work depicting the Crab Nebula. [Photo/WeChat account: snd-szgxqfb]
Five embroidery artworks vividly depicting the starry sky with 10 different stitching techniques and 4,000 colorful silk threads won a special award during the celebrations for the 6th China Space Day in Nanjing on April 24.
The artworks were the only ones awarded that day, and were created by Chen Yinghua, an experienced embroider from Zhenhu town in Suzhou New District.
A total of five works depicting the Crab Nebula, Horsehead Nebula, Eagle Nebula, Orion Nebula, and the Suzhou Star Chart were exhibited during the Space Day celebrations.
The one inspired by the Suzhou Star Chart is Chen's latest work. The original stone-etched work was created by Wang Zhiyuan in 1190 and is an important cultural relic.
"I love astronomical elements and I want to use the traditional Su embroidery craft to express their beauty," Chen said.
Since 2006, Chen has created 26 space-themed embroidery works. To bring out the best in each work, Chen visited local museums to observe every detail of the star charts and also used mulberry silk threads, which is only one-sixteenth the width of ordinary threads.
Chen has 35 years of experience in Su Embroidery. She is dedicated to integrating time-honored craftsmanship with Chinese and Western paintings, as well as photography, and has formed her own unique style of silk art.
Chen's embroidery work depicting the Horsehead Nebula. [Photo/WeChat account: snd-szgxqfb]
