An artisan in Hailing district, Taizhou, a city known as the "Birthplace of the People's Navy" in East China's Jiangsu province, has designed two copper relief artworks to honor the legacy of the Chinese navy, as China celebrated the 77th anniversary of the founding of its People's Liberation Army Navy on April 23.
Using a chisel and copper foil, Xu Jianmin, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage in Hailing's Huagang town, depicted the Taizhou Warship and the Birthplace of the People's Navy.
Two copper relief paintings by Xu Jianmin, the Birthplace of the People's Navy (left) and the Taizhou Warship. [Photo/WeChat account: weihailing0523]
Xu creates the Birthplace of the People's Navy artwork. [Photo/WeChat account: weihailing0523]
The Taizhou Warship artwork captures the vessel's sleek lines and dynamic presence, evoking images of it cutting through the waves. The Birthplace of the People's Navy piece nostalgically portrays the historic two-story building with its blue bricks and grey tiles, each window and step imbued with life and emotion.
Motivated by the approaching PLA Navy Day and the return of the Taizhou Warship, Xu expressed his desire to deepen public awareness of Taizhou's naval heritage. After a month of meticulous work, Xu donated these pieces to the Memorial Hall of the Birthplace of the People's Liberation Army Navy situated in Baima town, on April 20. They were exhibited during PLA Navy Day celebrations, using ICH to narrate Taizhou's enduring naval story.
