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Creative mementoes designed to remind visitors of Hangzhou
October 14, 2010, Thursday
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HANGZHOU is famous for traditional specialties such as tea, silk, fans and parasols. But designers have come up with fresh mementoes to remind visitors of Hangzhou's culture.
The Hangzhou City Gift Design Contest, which closed last week, attracted 2,000 submissions.
Fourteen were stand-outs, voted on by experts and citizens. They were modified as citizens gave input.
They include creative china wear, rings, toys and various knickknacks that will be manufactured and sold in the near future. The souvenirs are intended to combine traditional meaning with fashionable style, artistic design and practicality.
One first prize, one second prize and 12 third prizes were awarded.
Here are some of the gifts and comments by one of the judges, Zhao Yan, dean of the visual communication department of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou.
First Prize - Rings, Pendants
The five silver rings/pendants called "Playing Around West Lake" took awards for best creation and best crafts. "Playing Around West Lake"is a pun that refers to people playing around the lake and also tips people how to appreciate the rings.
Each ring consists of a fixed inner ring and rotatable out ring. The inner rings are carved with popular scenery of West Lake, including Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, and Leifeng Pagoda at Sunset. The outer rings are engraved with visitors boating or couples walking together.
By rotating the outer ring the view for the "visitors" is changed.
Designer Chen Yi teaches in the Jewelry Design Department of the China Academy of Art.
"I've lived in Hangzhou for more than 10 years and one of my strongest impressions is that of couples, young and old, holding hands and gazing at the lake. To preserve these visions, I made the rings."
Expert's comment:
The meaning of the work goes beyond the ordinary purpose of rings to be worn on the finger or on a chain around the neck. These rings are also to be "played with." The carving is exquisite.
Market prospects are good since rings can be made with different materials, aiming at high-end or low-end markets. Buyers can choose one, or a whole set.
Second prize - "Tower" tea set
The stacked tea set is roughly in the shape of the stone tower at Three Pools Mirroring the Moon on West Lake.
The work can be disassembled into four tea cups, a teapot, and tea container. It is contained in a wooden box that can be disassembled into saucers and tea tray.
The work is titled "Drinking Tea on the Lake." The five designers are students from Zhejiang Gongshang University; none is a Hangzhou local; all said the stone tower and tea are emblems of Hangzhou and they wanted to combine them.
Expert's comment:
Many pieces of chinaware were submitted in the competition but this tea set is special; it is "one piece" and easily portable. It is also excellent white china.
Though it approximates the shape of the tower, it preserves its charm. It also incorporates other Chinese elements: the spout, for example, looks like the edge of a lotus leaf.
Third prize - Map Bag
One of the 12 third-place prizes is a waterproof mat that can be converted to a bag. The entire surface is the map of Hangzhou.
It has a long zipper along three sides that can change the shape and a button that can be used as a clasp to close the bag. The interior has three pockets and contains a real-world compass.
Expert's comment:
This gift is practical and relates to tourism. It's a portable mat and bag for picnics and hikes. The map reminds visitors of their travel experience and scenic spots.
Third prize - West Lake poems
The gift is a poetry anthology of 100 poems inspired by West Lake and titled "I Have Been Watching Beauty for So Long." The local poet writes a poem for 100 beautiful places.
Expert's comment:
As the only book among the 2,000 submitted works, it took much longer to create and assumes Hangzhou visitors are well-educated.
The poems not only depict the beauty of the lake but also tell love stories and relate childhood memories.
Third prize - Box of souvenirs
Another of the 12 third-place prizes is a boxed kit of tourism products, including sweet-scented osmanthus (a local snack and seasoning), a Wangxingji fan, silk, tea, a map of Hangzhou and a city guidebook.
The wooden box contains two layers and movable compartments so that consumers can reuse the box.
Expert's comment:
Customers can learn more about Hangzhou through these traditional souvenirs. The wooden box can be reused and recycled in line with the city's low-carbon principles.
The Hangzhou City Gift Design Contest, which closed last week, attracted 2,000 submissions.
Fourteen were stand-outs, voted on by experts and citizens. They were modified as citizens gave input.
They include creative china wear, rings, toys and various knickknacks that will be manufactured and sold in the near future. The souvenirs are intended to combine traditional meaning with fashionable style, artistic design and practicality.
One first prize, one second prize and 12 third prizes were awarded.
Here are some of the gifts and comments by one of the judges, Zhao Yan, dean of the visual communication department of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou.
First Prize - Rings, Pendants
The five silver rings/pendants called "Playing Around West Lake" took awards for best creation and best crafts. "Playing Around West Lake"is a pun that refers to people playing around the lake and also tips people how to appreciate the rings.
Each ring consists of a fixed inner ring and rotatable out ring. The inner rings are carved with popular scenery of West Lake, including Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, and Leifeng Pagoda at Sunset. The outer rings are engraved with visitors boating or couples walking together.
By rotating the outer ring the view for the "visitors" is changed.
Designer Chen Yi teaches in the Jewelry Design Department of the China Academy of Art.
"I've lived in Hangzhou for more than 10 years and one of my strongest impressions is that of couples, young and old, holding hands and gazing at the lake. To preserve these visions, I made the rings."
Expert's comment:
The meaning of the work goes beyond the ordinary purpose of rings to be worn on the finger or on a chain around the neck. These rings are also to be "played with." The carving is exquisite.
Market prospects are good since rings can be made with different materials, aiming at high-end or low-end markets. Buyers can choose one, or a whole set.
Second prize - "Tower" tea set
The stacked tea set is roughly in the shape of the stone tower at Three Pools Mirroring the Moon on West Lake.
The work can be disassembled into four tea cups, a teapot, and tea container. It is contained in a wooden box that can be disassembled into saucers and tea tray.
The work is titled "Drinking Tea on the Lake." The five designers are students from Zhejiang Gongshang University; none is a Hangzhou local; all said the stone tower and tea are emblems of Hangzhou and they wanted to combine them.
Expert's comment:
Many pieces of chinaware were submitted in the competition but this tea set is special; it is "one piece" and easily portable. It is also excellent white china.
Though it approximates the shape of the tower, it preserves its charm. It also incorporates other Chinese elements: the spout, for example, looks like the edge of a lotus leaf.
Third prize - Map Bag
One of the 12 third-place prizes is a waterproof mat that can be converted to a bag. The entire surface is the map of Hangzhou.
It has a long zipper along three sides that can change the shape and a button that can be used as a clasp to close the bag. The interior has three pockets and contains a real-world compass.
Expert's comment:
This gift is practical and relates to tourism. It's a portable mat and bag for picnics and hikes. The map reminds visitors of their travel experience and scenic spots.
Third prize - West Lake poems
The gift is a poetry anthology of 100 poems inspired by West Lake and titled "I Have Been Watching Beauty for So Long." The local poet writes a poem for 100 beautiful places.
Expert's comment:
As the only book among the 2,000 submitted works, it took much longer to create and assumes Hangzhou visitors are well-educated.
The poems not only depict the beauty of the lake but also tell love stories and relate childhood memories.
Third prize - Box of souvenirs
Another of the 12 third-place prizes is a boxed kit of tourism products, including sweet-scented osmanthus (a local snack and seasoning), a Wangxingji fan, silk, tea, a map of Hangzhou and a city guidebook.
The wooden box contains two layers and movable compartments so that consumers can reuse the box.
Expert's comment:
Customers can learn more about Hangzhou through these traditional souvenirs. The wooden box can be reused and recycled in line with the city's low-carbon principles.
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