Chen Wenmin, Gothenburg and ancient Whampoa Harbor, 2006
Chen Wenmin (陳文敏), born in 1961, was listed as a representative transmitter in the National Intangible Culture Heritage[1]. This tall wine bowl[2] echoed a real life event and responded to current issue – that is the visit of the revived Swedish ship Gothenburg to Whampoa harbor in 2006.
The Gothenburg ship has quite a historical meaning to Guangzhou people as it represents the Qing maritime trade between China and Sweden. Unfortunately, the first Gothenburg, carrying a lot of Chinese porcelain, tea and silks, had suck when it’s about to reach its homeland Sweden. After the salvage, Sweden remade the Gothenburg the second (or the revived one) and then sailed it on the sea again
to different cities, including Whampoa, Guangzhou.
This modern vessel was an attempt to pay revere to the Swiss King who came along with the revived Gothenburg (image being shown at the upper part). At the lower part it signified the thousand years of maritime culture based in Guangzhou.
From the artifact we know that modern Guangcai masters would respond to current issues too.
[1] 廣東民間工藝博物館 (n.d.)。民間工藝大師。<http://www.gzchenjiaci.com/gd-folkart/master.aspx?MenuID=020304&ID=168&isLink=5>
[2] 番禺日報 (2008年8月17日)。「番禺廣彩為奧運加油添彩」,第四段。<http://www.gzchenjiaci.com/gd-folkart/master.aspx?MenuID=020304&ID=168&isLink=5>