Exhibition traces 3,000-year glassmaking history

MACAO — A fleeting flower blossom finds lasting form in glass at an exhibition in Macao, tracing more than 3,000 years of Chinese glassmaking.

Luminous Brilliance: The Artistry of Zibo Liuli at the Poly MGM Museum brings together nearly 180 ancient and contemporary examples of liuli, or Chinese glass art, with the opening ceremony held on Oct 15.

The sculpture Eternity, by Liu Yuan and Wang Tongqiang, captures a short-lived epiphyllum blossom in translucent violet-and-blue liuli glass. According to the museum's exhibition guide, the artists heated the material over a flame, pulling and bending it into petals before it cooled and hardened.

Other exhibits include eye-patterned beads from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and imperial glassware from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The exhibition draws on the traditions of Zibo, a glassmaking hub in East China's Shandong province.

Vice-Mayor Guo Qing said the city's industry now spans material research, design, production, and cultural tourism, with artisans practicing techniques such as glassblowing and carving.

Organizers include the National Museum of China, China Poly Group and the Zibo Ceramics and Glass Museum. The exhibition is free and runs through March 31.

XINHUA