A torch burns, a glass rod is ready; one hand holds pliers, the other guides the rod. The glass rod spins in a 1200°C flame...In a studio located in Zhangdian District, Zibo City, Chinese glass art master Ren Bo rotates his hands 360 degrees in the same direction. The glass rod gradually softens into a sphere. He rotates, compresses, taps, adds material, fuses, and layers... In just a few minutes, Shiji Niangniang from Ne Zha 2 emerges from the flames, her wide mouth agape and two green ears standing out-simple yet translucent.
"Shiji Niangniang is confident and open-hearted, with an innocent and adorable personality." Ren smiled, quoting the famous line from Shiji Niangniang: "Good thing there is still a bit of me left—where there is life, there is hope."After watching Ne Zha 2 on Lunar New Year's Day, Ren Bo was instantly drawn to this character. As an inheritor of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of glass art, he used lampworking to create the very first glass version of Shiji Niangniang. Once the video was posted online, viewers flooded the comments, asking for a purchase link.
Chinese glassmaking, with a history spanning thousands of years, is a national "intangible cultural heritage." To modernize this traditional craft, Ren has not only created works inspired by cartoons and anime but also incorporated contemporary elements into his designs. He has used glass in fashion shows, brought Chinese myths to life, and integrated cutting-edge technologies like 3D and holography into his pieces. According to Ren, a dress made from 6,000 glass rings will soon be displayed at the National Museum of China, allowing people around the world to gain a deeper understanding of China's cultural heritage and craftsmanship.
Reporter & Cameraman: Ding Chunli, Hu Wolong, Xin Ximeng (Intern), Cong Yujie (Intern)
Editing: Wang Yi, Hu Wolong
English editor: Daruis Zhao, Jack Wang
Translator: Cheng Yurui
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