China Pavilion at London Craft Week 2026 Explores Living Tradition
On May 12, 2026, the China Pavilion was inaugurated at Royal Mint Court in London as part of London Craft Week, showcasing the exhibition 'THOSE WHO MAKE CHINA BEAUTIFUL,' curated by Art and Design Press. This exhibition includes wedding attire, ethnic textiles, symbolic designs, and modern craft techniques that challenge traditional views on heritage. It explores three themes: reimagined historical wedding garments, textile traditions of Southwest Chinese ethnic minorities, and auspicious symbols. Notable works include Chen Shiyu's reconstructed garments from various dynasties, Guo Pei's 'Silver Jacket Lantern Skirt' with Chao embroidery, and installations by Hu Yuehua featuring nearly 3,000 fabric modules. Guy Salter commended the pavilion, while Li Hongfei emphasized its representation of Chinese emotional and aesthetic values through female artisans.
Key facts
- Exhibition opened 12th May 2026 at Royal Mint Court, London
- Organized and curated by Art and Design Press
- Features reconstructed wedding garments from Han, Tang, Song, Ming dynasties by Chen Shiyu
- Guo Pei's works include Silver Jacket Lantern Skirt using Chao embroidery
- Yan Wen's She Married Herself based on 1930s Republican-era qipao
- Yang Fengrui's Dong cloth dyed with indigo, rice wine, oxhide glue, egg white
- Hu Yuehua's Container of Memory uses nearly 3,000 folded fabric modules
- Guan Guan transforms gourds with gold-thread structures
- Guy Salter commented on the pavilion's quality
- Li Hongfei emphasized female craftsmen and designers
Entities
Artists
- Chen Shiyu
- Guo Pei
- Yan Wen
- Zou You
- Yang Fengrui
- Hu Yuehua
- Guan Guan
- Monica Wen Yan
Institutions
- Art and Design Press
- London Craft Week
- Royal Mint Court
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- China
- Southwest China