Artist wows Paris with works of Xiang embroidery

A Hunan embroidery inheritor recently captivated Paris with her contemporary interpretations of traditional Chinese craftsmanship at the prestigious Revelations 2025. Liu Ya from Changsha, Hunan province, presented 20 innovative Xiang embroidery pieces during her solo exhibition at the Grand Palais on May 21.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron visited the exhibition opening, where Brigitte Macron acquired one of the pieces from Liu, a double-sided palace fan embroidery featuring bamboo motifs. "When the president's wife picked up that fan," Liu reflected emotionally, "she was holding more than just craftsmanship."

Born into a Xiang embroidery family, Liu Ya is the daughter of Liu Jianxin, a national inheritor of Xiang embroidery and master of Chinese arts and crafts. Raised within the Hunan Embroidery Research Institute Co, she was trained in traditional Chinese painting from the age of five before studying Western art techniques during middle school. After completing her higher education in the UK, Liu abandoned a lucrative career to join her mother's studio.

"My path began with innate responsibility and love," Liu said. "Watching my mother transform fabric stitch by stitch, although I could not understand the hardship and perseverance, I developed reverence for this art."

She is also deeply influenced by her mother's adherence to traditional techniques, despite the pulls and pressures of modern business and commerce.

She particularly recalled her mother's dedication to the 20-meter Thousand Cranes Scroll — a project involving twelve artisans over two decades in the course of which Liu Jianxin often "accidentally drank ink" or "wore mismatched shoes" due to her intense focus. "Her unwavering artisan spirit forms my foundation," Liu Ya said. Her studio showcases her artistic evolution. She explores themes beyond conventional subjects, drawing inspiration from all living things. "Skill has no old or new; taste has high or low," she said. "Good work combines technique with composition."

Liu Ya's innovations include the Joy Series, blending line art with embroidery as homage to handicraft warmth, and Spring Pear Blossoms, inspired by a pear grove.

Another notable work, Motherly Love — depicting polar bears amid climate threats, employed specialized stitches to render fur texture. Created with her mother, the piece intertwines maternal love, intergenerational heritage, and ecological concern. "An inheritor must be well-rounded," Liu said. "Technical mastery alone doesn't suffice; independent thought is essential."

Over a year of preparation culminated in Liu Ya's Paris showcase, where her booth became a major attraction. The exhibition is also a presentation of her inheritance and innovation of Xiang embroidery over the years. It is not only a traditional technique, but also a cultural expression and an artistic bridge that transcends national border and connects people, she said.

Many French visitors experienced Chinese embroidery for the first time, with one exclaiming, "It's like painting with silk thread!"

Liu conducted daily demonstrations and workshops, guiding audiences through Xiang embroidery's history and techniques. "When French viewers paused before my works, I understood threads transcend language," she said, noting this exhibition marked a significant step in globalizing Chinese craftsmanship. She aims to continue using "innovation as brush and inheritance as ink" to share Chinese culture worldwide.

Liu Yao contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn