From May 19 to 21, the Embassy of China in the UAE, the China Cultural Center in the UAE, the China International Culture Association, and the UAE Bassam Freiha Art Foundation co-hosted the exhibition and workshop event “The Scent of Nature: Encountering China Blue – Inheritance and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Indigo Dyeing” in Abu Dhabi. Over 120 enthusiasts of Chinese culture from countries such as the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria, Germany, France, Italy, India, Australia, and the United States participated in immersive experiences of indigo dyeing and incense culture, admiring indigo-dyed exhibits that represent the “Four Traditional Chinese Dyeing Arts.”
1、Anning Tie-Dye
Under the guidance of Yang Cheng, an inheritor of the Anning tie-dye technique, international participants folded and tied white fabrics creatively before immersing them in indigo plant dye. The resulting patterns—ranging from romantic hearts and geometric shapes to starry skies—were ever-changing due to diverse tying methods. Everyone was thrilled with their unique creations, each piece reflecting personal warmth, ideas, and wishes.
2、Blue Printed Cloth
Hu Yaofei, an inheritor of the blue printed cloth technique, explained the processes involved in stencil-resist dyeing and plant-based printing. He brought pre-prepared cloths—meticulously carved, coated with resist paste, and dried by Chinese artisans—to Abu Dhabi. Emirati participants then dyed them with indigo pigment and scraped off the resist paste, unveiling blue printed cloths co-created by Chinese artisans and UAE enthusiasts.
3、Miao Batik
Ning Manli, a Miao batik artist, introduced the traditional batik techniques originating in Danzhai, Guizhou. The designs—fish, birds, flowers, and mountains—drawn from daily life, were first sketched in wax on cloth using wax knives. After dyeing in indigo and removing the wax, symbolic patterns such as phoenixes (for nobility) and carp (for abundance) emerged. Each cloth embodied the Guizhou women’s aspirations for a better life. As participants listened to these heartfelt stories and engaged in hands-on batik creation, Ning sang “I’m Waiting for You in Guizhou,” filling the workshop with warmth and emotion.
4、Traditional Chinese Incense Making
Wang Xiaoli, a traditional Chinese incense artist, guided participants in crafting rabbit-shaped scented sachets. They filled the pouches with classic ingredients such as agarwood, clove, angelica root, and cinnabar, along with mugwort, osmanthus, jasmine, and lavender. Guests joyfully admired their handmade sachets, breathing in the calming fragrances while listening to stories about China’s rich incense culture, wondering who among their loved ones would receive this special gift.
Each naturally elegant, ever-changing indigo-dyed cloth and every richly fragrant Chinese sachet embodied both the warmth of international participants and the artistry of Chinese heritage inheritors…
