Ancient birch bark craft enjoys revival under tutor

Tao says students majoring in fine arts and crafts have a solid art foundation which helps them understand the essence of craftsmanship. The introduction of the traditional craft has inspired the younger generations to endow it with new life. Tao's students have had their graduation artwork displayed in a variety of venues.

Since 2015, the Heilongjiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center has been documenting national intangible inheritors over 70 years old through video recordings. In October 2017, the center recorded a birch bark craft demonstrated by Fu Zhanxiang, a national-level inheritor of intangible cultural heritage.

Tao says that she is currently working to hone her oil painting skills in order to better present the charm of birch bark with her paintbrush. In the future, she wants to build a birch bark history museum, to give people the chance to experience the rich history and culture of the art form.