Chinese intangible cultural heritage exhibition in London showcases contemporary design

Abstract : An exhibition bringing together Chinese intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design opened at Somerset House in London on Wednesday, featuring nearly 150 works and sets of works by more than 70 Chinese and international artists.

This photo taken on Sept. 17, 2026 shows an exhibit on display in an exhibition titled "Reviving Craft: Reflection of the Mind," in London, Britain. An exhibition bringing together Chinese intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design opened at Somerset House in London on Wednesday, featuring nearly 150 works and sets of works by more than 70 Chinese and international artists. Titled "Reviving Craft: Reflection of the Mind," the exhibition is part of the 2026 London Design Festival and runs until Sept. 27. It features works in ceramics, lacquer, embroidery, glass, fiber art, furniture and installation. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LONDON, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition bringing together Chinese intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design opened at Somerset House in London on Wednesday, featuring nearly 150 works and sets of works by more than 70 Chinese and international artists.

Titled "Reviving Craft: Reflection of the Mind," the exhibition is part of the 2026 London Design Festival and runs until Sept. 27. It features works in ceramics, lacquer, embroidery, glass, fiber art, furniture and installation.

The exhibition is jointly curated by Su Dan, professor at the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University, and Yang Lan, chairperson of Sun Media Group.

Following previous editions in Paris in 2024 and Milan in 2025, the London exhibition focuses on the relationship between people and their inner world. It is divided into three sections themed around the Chinese concepts of Chengxin, or clearing the mind, Xiuxin, refining the mind, and Yangxin, nourishing the mind.

Among the works on display are Chinese sculptor Zhi Min's ceramic and metal work Moon, Shi Hui's paper-fiber work Seal Stone, lacquer artist Xue Xiaodong's screen inspired by The Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River, and Suzhou embroidery artist Yao Jianping's double-sided embroidery screen Nine Carps.

Traditional techniques including lacquerware, cloisonne, Suzhou embroidery, gambiered Guangdong silk and glassmaking are presented alongside contemporary art and design. Some works also bring traditional craftsmanship into furniture, fashion and other objects intended for everyday use.

Yang said the exhibition takes on particular meaning at a time when artificial intelligence is changing the way people create.

"Through making things by hand, we can rediscover human embodied intelligence and feel a connection that is tangible," she said at the opening ceremony. "It gives us strength and inspiration."

Yang said China and Britain both value craftsmanship and cultural heritage, expressing hope that the exhibition could help promote exchanges between the two countries, especially among younger people.

Li Liyan, minister counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Britain, said intangible cultural heritage today carries significance beyond preservation and inheritance.

"It also needs to become part of contemporary life and face the future," Li said. He added that the exhibition offers overseas audiences a way to learn more about contemporary China and provides a platform for exchanges between China and Britain in culture, art and creative design.

Su has described design as "an important medium for transforming intangible cultural heritage," saying contemporary design can help traditional craftsmanship find new expressions and enter modern life.

The London exhibition is also a special project of this year's London Design Festival, which brings together exhibitions, installations and design events across the British capital.

A woman visits an exhibition titled "Reviving Craft: Reflection of the Mind," in London, Britain, Sept. 17, 2026. An exhibition bringing together Chinese intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design opened at Somerset House in London on Wednesday, featuring nearly 150 works and sets of works by more than 70 Chinese and international artists.

People visit an exhibition titled "Reviving Craft: Reflection of the Mind," in London, Britain, Sept. 17, 2026. An exhibition bringing together Chinese intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design opened at Somerset House in London on Wednesday, featuring nearly 150 works and sets of works by more than 70 Chinese and international artists.

This photo taken on Sept. 17, 2026 shows exhibits on display in an exhibition titled "Reviving Craft: Reflection of the Mind," in London, Britain. An exhibition bringing together Chinese intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design opened at Somerset House in London on Wednesday, featuring nearly 150 works and sets of works by more than 70 Chinese and international artists.

A man visits an exhibition titled "Reviving Craft: Reflection of the Mind," in London, Britain, Sept. 17, 2026. An exhibition bringing together Chinese intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design opened at Somerset House in London on Wednesday, featuring nearly 150 works and sets of works by more than 70 Chinese and international artists.