Exhibition zooms in on cultural heritage

Like Zhong, Liang Hongwei from southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region stood out for her series of photography works zooming in on traditional wooden house construction in rural areas of Tianlin county, Baise city of the region.

"The people there have lived in wooden houses for generations, but due to the high costs of materials, the complexity of the construction process, and the need for skilled craftsmen, very few villagers have built wooden houses in the past decade," Liang says.

"When I learned that a family was planning to construct a traditional wooden house, I felt compelled to document the process out of a desire to protect and pass on traditional culture," she adds.

Over the course of more than six months of construction, Liang visited and took photos three times, witnessing how this traditional wooden house was built without a single nail, relying solely on the efforts of over 200 relatives and neighbors who carried materials and pulled ropes.

"I was deeply moved by the wisdom of these hardworking people," she says, adding that her work being shortlisted for recommendation is not only a recognition of her efforts but also a motivation for her to continue using the power of photography to promote the transmission and development of local intangible cultural heritage.

Zhong's film and Liang's photos were among 10 long films, 10 short films and 10 photography works themed on intangible cultural heritage that were specially commended during the exhibition in Zhejiang.

The event aimed to showcase the achievements in intangible cultural heritage preservation in China since the country joined the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 20 years ago.

It also aimed to promote and exhibit the recent outstanding intangible cultural heritage imagery works from across the country, summarize the related experiences and disseminate the correct concepts of intangible cultural heritage preservation, according to the organizers.

The three-day event drew in more than 330,000 visits online.

Lan Jing, director of the Center for Ethnic and Folk Literature and Art Development, says intangible cultural heritage films and photos play a vital role in recording and disseminating ICH. On one hand, they reflect the personal journeys of the practitioners involved in ICH, and on the other, they objectively present the preservation and development of ICH projects.

The works can transcend the limits of time and space for the public to understand the lineage of these heritage projects, appreciate their spiritual values, and discover their rich meanings and unique charm, Lan says.

Lan also calls on ICH photographers and filmmakers to immerse themselves in the communities where ICH projects are located, paying close attention to the preservation of heritage items, the stories of their bearers and communities, and the natural and cultural environments that sustain these projects.

This approach will foster the creation of more high-quality ICH photos and films that can meet the growing spiritual and cultural needs of the people, Lan adds.

Speaking from his own experience, Zhong points out that it's important to fully understand the history, cultural significance, and value of the intangible cultural heritage project before filming.

"We have to approach these traditional cultural assets with respect, avoiding inappropriate depictions or misinterpretations of the heritage project," he says.

Efforts should also be made to truthfully represent the authentic scenes and craftsmanship of ICH projects, avoiding excessive embellishment or exaggeration, he notes.

"Let the audience see the project in its true form, allowing its unique charm to shine through," Zhong says.

Additionally, focus should be given to details, as the allure of ICH often resides in subtle intricacies.

"Capture these often overlooked details, using close-up shots to highlight delicate techniques, so that viewers can clearly appreciate the craftsmanship's finesse," he says.