Address: Suzhou ICH Shop (No. 231 Dongbei Street, Gusu District, Suzhou)
About a dozen of Chinese and foreign guests attended the Fruit Pit Carving session held by Restoration Intangible Cultural Heritage Experiential Studio on March 27.
Zhou Jianming, representative inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage, presented the history of fruit pit carving with detailed materials, offering the participants an opportunity to further understand this traditional handicraft.
In the following experience part, Zhou Jianming first explained and demonstrated in great detail the way to hold chisel.
“The head of the chisel must form a 15 to 20 degree angle with the carving surface, and you have to press the ring finger of your right hand against the fruit pit, otherwise you cannot use all your strength and it is very likely that you will cut your own finger.” said Zhou.
The half-hour-plus practice gave the participants a glimpse into basic carving methods and the patterns they carved gradually took shape in the end.
It was the first time for Lu Yutong from Duke Kunshan University to participate in the intangible cultural heritage experiential event.
“It is harder than I thought, especially holding the chisel. But it’s really fascinating and I hope there will be more opportunities for me and my classmates to join in such events and feel the charm of Suzhou intangible cultural heritage.” said Lu.
Marta, who is a frequent visitor to Restoration Studio, came to last Saturday’s session once again.
“It’s not easy. Now I know that you need both techniques and time to do this.”
Besides, over 2000 netizens watched the live stream through Douyin account FeiyibanFeiyi on the same day.