As the Year of the Snake draws closer, Chinese artists are releasing new cultural products to commemorate its arrival. CGTN's Wang Mengjie spoke to Zhang Wang, the designer of the snake-themed commemorative postage stamps and other official products released ahead of the Spring Festival.
ZHANG WANG Designer "Art comes from life. The design for the snakes comes from a pottery dish dating back to China's Taosi culture. I changed the color from red to white. The plate features two snakes with a lotus flower in the centre. It reminds me of the legend of the White Snake. I think inspiration is gathered from life. When it comes to design, I just need to strike a chord with daily accumulation and expand it."
Reporter: So, design has become your DNA.
"Or I use my DNA to design."
Fridge magnets, decorative items and postage stamps. Zhang Wang tells me China's cultural depth is at the heart of his design.
ZHANG WANG Designer "The English language generally conveys precise meaning while Chinese words often fit into a multitude of contexts. Like this snake-themed item, it was designed to be born with a golden spoon in the mouth, implying its precious value. In addition to the patterns, it's not only for decoration, but refers to luck and success. In Chinese culture, each design element is full of cultural connotations, not just at the surface level."
From cartoon pendants to gold jewelry, snake-inspired products will, this year, be at the centre of China's zodiac economy. Last year, the United Nations cultural and scientific agency UNESCO listed the Spring Festival as a form of intangible cultural heritage.
The market for snake-themed products is expected to see a boom in consumption. Zhang is pleased to see that people are drawn to these products. But, he has a warning.
ZHANG WANG Designer "We need to put effort into cultural products, not only to make quick money. I've seen some products that seem to be the same. It's very easy to produce aesthetic fatigue, so as to kill consumers' desire to buy."
The designer believes when people buy cultural products, they're not only bringing an item home, they're reflecting their unique appreciation of beauty. Lead a life full of beauty, Zhang told me. That's what he hopes to see. Wang Mengjie, CGTN, Beijing.