Visitors explore the melted copper art exhibition at the Wuxi Museum on Aug 8. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]
An exhibition celebrating two decades of melted copper art opened on Aug 8 at the Wuxi Museum, marking the first joint show by renowned artists Zhu Bingren and his son Zhu Junmin.
The exhibition features over 100 copper artworks that trace the evolution of the distinctive artistic form, from its accidental discovery to its development into a mature creative language. The Zhu family holds the distinction of being the only father-son pair in China to be designated national intangible cultural heritage inheritors.
The melted copper technique was created in 2006, when Zhu Bingren discovered a method of working with copper without traditional molds, allowing the material to flow freely in flame.
Melted copper artworks are on display at the Wuxi Museum from Aug 8 to Oct 31. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]
The elder Zhu, now in his eighties, has developed a signature color system he calls "rencai" and continues to push creative boundaries. His son Zhu Junmin champions the philosophy of "bringing copper back home", integrating copper art into everyday life through scholar's desk pieces that blend tradition with contemporary taste.
The exhibition is inspired by traditional Chinese color symbolism, featuring works ranging from iridescent vases to ink-wash-style wall panels.
The father-son duo's connection to Wuxi spans nearly two decades. In 2006, Zhu Bingren worked on copper craft projects at the city's Lingshan Mountain Scenic Area – the same year the melted copper technique was born. Since then, the family has established multiple copper art spaces across the city.
The exhibition runs through Oct 31.
Address: 100 Zhongshu Road, Liangxi district, Wuxi (无锡市梁溪区钟书路100号)
Copyright © China Daily. All rights reserved.