Chinese gallery makes mark at UK art fair

For the third consecutive year, BR Gallery founder Li Rui has brought her collections to the Collect international art fair held in London, capital of the United Kingdom.

Her gallery remains the sole Chinese representative at the 21st edition of this international platform for contemporary crafts and designs, which featured works by more than 400 artists from more than 30 countries from Feb 26 to March 2 this year.

Li spends half a year preparing for the fair: selecting works, submitting catalogs for committee review, transporting delicate handmade pieces, and curating exhibitions. With barely any profits to show for it, very few Chinese commercial galleries are willing or able to participate in an event held thousands of miles away, she says, admitting she sometimes questions her commitment.

"Every year, I pay out of pocket for the expenses and haven't made a single penny," Li says. "All I wish is that, through BR Gallery, I can establish a platform that connects traditions with contemporary craft, and China with the world. Through our appearances at this fair, I have become even more convinced of the unique value and potential of contemporary Chinese crafts."

BR Gallery, initially described as a newcomer from Asia, has now become familiar to many regular visitors. During its three years of participation, more than 19 pieces have been acquired by prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK and the National Museum of Ireland, as well as by private collectors.

"Sally (Li Rui) started here as quite a small gallery, and we've watched her grow and grow," says Isobel Dennis, director of the Collect art fair. "We would love to see more artists and galleries representing China because it just has a phenomenal history of craft."

A major highlight of BR Gallery's exhibits has been works that subtly and skillfully integrate Chinese traditional elements, such as handed-down craftsmanship and philosophies, into contemporary artistic expression. The centerpiece, the Reproduction series by Beijing-based metalwork artist Sun Qiushuang, serves as a vivid illustration of this fusion.

The crumpled silver teapot, covered in a rippling texture that only reveals itself upon closer observation, draws inspiration from Chinese traditional hammering techniques that thrive in Heqing county, Southwest China's Yunnan province, according to Sun. The skill employs different kinds of hammers to shape metal sheets and creates exquisite marks, strike by strike.

The rippling lines also resemble the hemp-fiber texture strokes commonly used in Chinese landscape paintings to depict the gently bushy mountains of southern China, Sun says.

Interestingly, Li's passion for promoting Chinese contemporary crafts also stems from a trip to Heqing county in 2018, where she was amazed by how silversmithing had evolved into a pillar industry, supported at both national and local levels to champion traditional craft skills.

"As tea drinking makes a comeback to the daily lives of Chinese people, it coincides with China's growing economic strength. The utensils used for tea drinking have become more refined, and hand-crafted silver teapots, as luxury items, have then come into sight. In Heqing, a small county, the output value of silver and copper products reached 3.2 billion yuan ($4.4 billion) in 2024, with more than 1,500 households involved in the processing of silver handicrafts," she says.

Contemporary Chinese crafts are flourishing, yet they remain overlooked compared to traditional handicrafts, Li notes.

Pieces created by university faculty and students are frequently showcased at major exhibitions worldwide and achieve strong results in competitions, according to Li.

"However, domestic market for contemporary crafts remains underdeveloped. Most works by academic artists are largely confined to scholarly events and have yet to gain widespread recognition among collectors and consumers," she says.

"We hope art institutions can engage more actively with the market. We also hope that the government will provide stronger support to us. Contemporary craft is, in fact, a durable way to preserve China's rich heritage, as it builds upon traditions while embracing modernity."

Dennis adds: "The fair is just a stepping stone; it needs someone to be pushing it. Here in the UK, it's the Crafts Council that has done the job. Besides, the transition from traditional skills must ensure that both the skills and the artists are recognized; they are never separate."

Crafts Council is UK's national charity for craft that sets up the Collect art fair.

Despite the challenges, Li's dedication to showcasing Chinese art remains unwavering. "Every penny of my own spent to present China's most representative contemporary metalwork and jewelry art to the world counts," she says. "All my efforts have been worth it."

Zhu Xueer contributed to this story

zhengwanyin@mail.chinadailyuk.com