序 Preface
无画不年，是苏州人的一句老话，姑苏城的岁月，都凝结在了桃花坞木版年画里。 As an old Suzhou saying goes,print is an indispensable part of Chinese New Year. The bygone days of Gushu city have been condensed in Taohuawu woodblock new year prints. 明末清初的苏州，物阜民丰文化繁荣，桃花坞木版年画也应运而生。它源于宋代的雕版印刷，清雍正乾隆年间最为鼎盛，每年出量可达百万张。康乾年间，大量姑苏版年画传入日本，对十七世纪浮世绘版画亦影响深刻。作为唯一发源于城市的木版年画体系，桃花坞木版年画以其细腻的线条淡雅的色彩和丰富的寓意取胜。2006年，苏州桃花坞木版年画制作技艺被列入第一批家级非物质文化遗代表作名录。 Taohuawu new year prints came into being in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty, when Suzhou was a prosperous city with abundant resources and thriving culture. It was developed from block printing of the Song Dynasty and reached its heyday in the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty, with annual production of up to one million pieces. During the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns, a large number of Gushu version new year prints were exported to Japan and exerted profound impact on the Ukiyoe prints in the 17th century. As the only woodblock new year print system that is originated in the city, Taohuawu print is distinguished for delicate lines, elegant light colors and rich meanings. In 2006, Suzhou Taohuawu woodblock new year print technique was inscribed into the first representative list of national intangible cultural heritages. 跨越漫长岁月的桃花坞年画，经历了凋零冲击，而今迎新生，以乔麦为代表的一批年轻艺术家正致力于传承保护这一古老的艺术。回首少年时，乔麦幸承桃花坞年画宗师房志达王祖德卢等不倦教诲，素手执刀，坚守初心，于熙攘红尘刻三千繁华。复兴年画道阻且长，虽创作已二十年，乔麦仍称自己为守艺人。每一年，她都会复刻一幅经典延续一幅生肖年画创作一幅全新年画。 Despite of the many headwinds and deadly blows over its long development course, Taohuawu print is reviving now. A group of young artists, represented by Qiao Mai, are dedicated to the inheritance and protection of this ancient art. Qiao Mai learned from great masters of Taohuawu new year prints, including Fang Zhida, Wang Zude and Luping during her youth times and has since stuck to the art, fully aware that the road to the rejuvenation of new year print would be tough and long. Having devoted herself to woodblock cutting for nearly two decades, Qiao Mai still called herself a persistent artisan. Every year, she would invariably copy a classic print, cut a zodiac signsthemed new year print and create an original one. 木版年画要如何回归当代生活？没有哪一条路一定可以走到想要的终点，但乔麦愿意尽可能地去尝试。姑苏二十四节气年画系列，正是乔麦潜心治艺下对苏州文化对桃花坞木版年画的诉说表达。食四时之鲜居园林之秀赏苏博美物，于二十四幅木版年画记录姑苏岁时风物和生活，融合苏博馆藏文物元素，将苏州人生活的点滴融入画面，铺陈开。在她的创作里，古典与现代相互映照，浓郁的人文情怀融合江南意境，呈现出美妙而柔和的过渡。桃花坞木版年画不只是一幅幅美丽的画作，更是经典而鲜活的苏州符号。 How to bring woodblock prints back to daily life in modern times? There is no sure way, but Qiao Mai would like to try. 24 Solar Terms of Gushu series new year prints are Qiao Mai’s representation and expression of Suzhou culture and Taohuawu woodblock new year print through her devotion for the art. The 24 woodblock prints record the life style and special products of Gushu, such as eating seasonable ingredients, living in picturesque gardens and visiting museums to appreciate precious relics. The prints integrate the elements of cultural relics in the collection of Suzhou Museum with the dribs and drabs in the daily life of Suzhou residents. Her creation combines classical style with modern elements, and the strong humanistic sentiment is mixed with the artistic conception of Jiangnan to present a fantastic and soft transition. Taohuawu new year prints are fancy works as well as classical living symbols of Suzhou. 本次创作为苏州博物馆青年人才扶持计划入选项目，并由苏州博物馆发展基金会支持。希冀古老的年画艺术在乔麦等青年艺术家的传承守护下，一步步融入年轻人的生活，焕发出崭新的生命力。同时，感谢乔麦女士慷慨捐赠姑苏二十四节气年画及木刻板，为丰富我馆馆藏作出贡献。 The creation is supported by Suzhou Museum Young Talents Supporting Program and funded by Suzhou Museum Development Foundation. Hope that the ancient art of new year print will get more and more involved in the daily life of young people and burst forth new life with the efforts of young artists represented by Qiao Mai. Also, we’d like to extend thanks to Ms. Qiao Mai for her generous donation of 24 Solar Terms of Gusu series new year prints and woodblocks to Suzhou Museum and for her contribution to the collection of the museum. 苏州博物馆 Suzhou Museum