Shao receives an invitation to promote Chinese solar terms at the UN headquarters. [zjol.com.cn]
A collection of logo designs based on the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese solar calendar was recently displayed at the UN headquarters in New York.
It was created by a Zhejiang woman named Shao Luyun. Shao, a Huzhou native born in the 1980s, is a teacher in the Department of Visual Communication and Design at Huzhou University.
She specializes in research related to graphic design, illustration art, and folk handicrafts.
"In the illustration art circle, traditional festivals, solar terms and seasons are 'popular elements', which are frequently used to create series of artworks," Shao said.
During Beijing Design Week in September 2017, a logo design competition based on the 24 solar terms attracted much attention. Shao was invited by its organizers to take part in the contest and represent professional designers.
Shao received inspiration from a large number of publications and artworks, leading her to include elements such as raindrops and swallows in her designs.
"Throughout the process, I learned some interesting things about folk customs," Shao added.
It took her more than two months to finish the whole design collection.
Shao's artwork stood out among the over 500 submissions, and was awarded after being reviewed by experts in various fields, including art, folk customs, meteorology and literature.
Shao was invited to promote the 24 solar terms at the UN headquarters as an "international cultural exchange ambassador" at the end of 2017.
On Feb 1, her award-winning creation made its debut in New York.
"After explaining my design concept, many visitors took out their phones and cameras to take photos. UN staff talked a lot about traditional Chinese culture with us," She recalled.
This is the first time the 24 solar terms have been promoted at the UN headquarters since they were added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in 2016.
Shao was also pleased that a promotional event on traditional Chinese culture for youth was held at the Brooklyn City Hall on Feb 2, allowing local students to learn more about Chinese painting, seal-cutting and paper-cutting. During this event, she taught foreign children paper-cutting.
Shao hopes that her 24 solar terms logo design and her teaching will inspire more young people to take part in promoting traditional Chinese culture.
Images representing different solar terms, such as cattle and raindrops, are used in Shao's designs. [zjol.com.cn]