Creating his own brand of art

Niu Chengguo has carried a flame for the craft of gourd pyrography since childhood and is trying to help the intangible cultural heritage to find its place in the new era, Yang Feiyue reports.

Niu Chengguo was beyond proud and thrilled when he knew his handmade gift had been well received by a special international guest in late January.

Niu's fire-painted bottle gourd was given to the chairman of the International Olympic Committee's Beijing 2022 coordination commission, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, during his visit to the Olympic Village in the capital city's Chaoyang district.

"Thank you very much. I will cherish this special gift," Samaranch said.

Niu's bottle gourd works feature elements of plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum-four of the favorite subjects of well-known Chinese painters and calligraphers throughout the course of history.

The four plants have also been assigned with the great qualities of fortitude, fragrance and tenaciousness, each resembling the characteristics of a strong will and the ability to overcome hardship.

The bottle gourd presented to Samaranch featured orchids, symbolizing wealth, peace, good fortune and goodwill.

"We had many design schemes at the beginning, but settled on that one to show traditional Chinese culture, humanistic spirit and Chinese virtues," Niu says.

The upper part of the bottle gourd was made into a dragon head, symbolizing the Chinese nation, and an attached red knot promotes luck, explains the 56-year-old villager from northeastern Beijing's Shunyi district.

Niu has been engaged in the gourd art for more than 40 years. The art was named a local intangible heritage by the Beijing government in September 2021.

"I learned it from my grandfather," Niu says.