Four Hainan jade sculptures exhibited at National Museum

Zhou Jinfu (R2) lectures at the National Museum. [Photo by Zhong Yuying/hinews.cn]

Propelled by the theme "Carry forward classics for a brilliant future", the China Contemporary Arts and Crafts Biennale 2018 was launched at the National Museum in Beijing on Aug 18.

Four sculptures made of Changjiang jade in Hainan province were unveiled in the exhibition. 

Zhou Jinfu, a master of arts and crafts and a national expert of jade carving, led his students from the Changjiang Vocational Education Center to the museum where he delivered a lecture.

Zhou said Changjiang's jade industry enjoys huge development potential due to a rich supply and the government's stress on cultivating more jade-carving talents.

In the fall-term of 2016, the center set up a major of jewelry and jade processing and marketing to train 200 carvers in five years.

A total of 90 students, 50 in their first year, are now studying at Zhou's studio.

According to He Shunjin, director of the standing committee of Changjiang county people's congress, Changjiang hopes to build conversations with jade-carving masters and collectors in the country and carvers in all schools are welcome.

To promote further development of the jade industry, the local Party committee and government have registered the brand of Changjiang Jade, established jade culture museums and invited jade-carving masters for lectures.

The China Contemporary Arts and Crafts Biennale 2018 was co-organized by the Chinese National Academy of Arts and the China National Arts and Crafts Museum.

More than 900 pieces by national and provincial masters, inheritors of intangible culture, and young and middle aged artists are being exhibited until Sept 2.

A piece of Changjiang jade sculpture exhibited at the National Museum in Beijing [Photo/hinews.cn]