Have you ever stumbled upon a Russian lubok print and thought, 'Hey, this feels like a Chinese New Year painting!' 🎨 In the colourful city of St. Petersburg, Dr Xu Chenlei from Tianjin University on the Chinese mainland is bridging these two vibrant printmaking traditions, and the results are pretty fascinating.
What's a lubok, anyway? Lubok prints were the medieval memes of Russia—simple, bold images paired with catchy captions, shared among all social classes. On the flip side, Chinese New Year paintings (nianhua) light up homes on the Chinese mainland every Spring Festival with lucky symbols, festive stories, and bright reds and golds.
Through Dr Xu’s comparative research, we see how both art forms:
- Highlight popular stories and folklore 🏮
- Use vivid colours to spark joy and convey messages 🌈
- Reflect everyday life and hopes for the future ✨
Despite different languages and aesthetics, both prints tap into universal emotions—celebration, hope, humor—and show how art connects communities across time and space. 🌏
Next time you spot a lubok or a nianhua, look closer. You might just find yourself smiling at a shared human story! 😊
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
