Can "Chinese Elements" Revitalize Traditional Culture?

Jiang Qionger, a 35 year old designer, has been influenced by classics since childhood.

Her grandfather was a famous painter, and his father was the architect of the Shanghai Museum.

As a child, she learned drawing and calligraphy with famous artists such as Cheng Shifa and Han Tianheng.

After her return to the National Academy of Fine Arts in Paris, she became a painter.

To cooperate with big brands such as Forevermark and Hermes.

The cooperation with Hermes has bred "up and down", which is the Chinese luxury brand co founded by Jiang Qionger and Hermes in 2008.

Although "up and down" is sometimes referred to as the Chinese brand of Hermes, Jiang Qionger said she is the "pillar" of "up and down" products, and her management and design team is also completely independent of Hermes. Most of the team members are educated Chinese in the West.

"Up and down" also sells some garments, but the most famous products are handicrafts household products, including India sandalwood wooden tables and a ceramic tea cup with bamboo plaits.

They will be sold in the Shanghai boutique of "up and down", and they will open another store in Paris later this year.

While drinking Puer tea, Jiang Qionger interviewed reporters, telling her about her experience of learning calligraphy and the expansion plan of "up and down", and why China needs to make cultural surprises go hand in hand with economic growth.

The following is an edited interview.

Reporter: what impact do you have on a family of art?

Jiang Qiong: children are like white paper, so the influence is subtle, like a trickle.

I am totally immersed in art. I paint, practice calligraphy, and see how they create works of art.

They all advocate free and free and easy pursuit of art and do not value money and fame and wealth.

My brother and I are the youngest students (Mr. Cheng and Mr. Han).

At the age of six, I didn't understand it, but now I recall that they are well deserved masters. They not only teach skills, but also teach us about human values. For example, "art is a portrayal of individuality".

Reporter: what did you learn from your experience in Paris?

Jiang Qionger: it opened my mind.

I learned that one plus one is not equal to 100, because unlike mathematics, art is not an objective thing.

I was deeply influenced by Chinese tradition before, and I began to learn Chinese painting from an early age.

Chinese education focuses on repetitive exercises, so changing the system will give people more freedom.

Reporter: why do you create "up and down"?

Chiang Qiong: there are a lot of Chinese traditions and handicrafts being lost. If we do not find a modern way to preserve them, they will disappear.

Now our craftsmen are already more than 50 years old, and their children are unwilling to learn these skills.

If young people do not have interest or desire to learn, these crafts will disappear.

We want to give value to these knowledge, so that their children may start learning after five years.

Over the past 30 years, China's economic growth has impressed the world.

In the next 30 to 50 years, we must praise the world in culture.

Interviewer: How did you cooperate with Hermes?

Jiang Qiong Er: I met (Art Director) Dimma (Pierre-Alexis Dumas) and (Chief Executive) Thomas (Patrick Thomas).

We stayed together for three hours and finally found that we shared some common values and dreams.

It's like a date between men and women when they have dinner together, they know they want to do something together.

But we are very independent.

"Up and down" is a Chinese project, so all aspects of creativity and management must be based on Chinese culture.

This is a Chinese team. You can't impose the "love" on the "up and down".

The biggest difference lies in the cultural roots.

They are French traditions, they love coffee, and we love tea.

Reporter: China's luxury market has always been dominated by Western brands.

Do you think this situation will change?

Jiang Qiong Er: in the past three to five years, rich Chinese have bought Western luxury brands.

Now they want to have their own cultural heritage. They are asking: what did the emperor drink before?

When life is abundant, people have time to pursue quality.

This is a special new era for China and a special moment for us.

Many young people may not be able to afford our things, but they can see our works and feel proud of Chinese culture.

Reporter: you are going to open a new store in Paris.

Why?

Jiang Qionger: "up and down" represents Eastern philosophy and movement. We want to promote the development of Oriental art concept.

But Chinese culture is not just geographically based on China, it can be shared globally.

We are a good window for more people to experience Chinese handicrafts, Chinese quality and design.

We choose Paris because Shanghai and Paris are the two places that breed "up and down". We want them to lie in the arms of their parents.

Reporter: what are the plans for next?

Jiang Qiong: we have many dreams, but we hope to build a handicraft school in the future.

Learning art in a bright room is a very different experience.

I also hope that we can open a store in Beijing.

This is very important, because it is the cultural and political center of China, but we are not in a hurry now.