East Meets West-Two Embroidery Artists Become Friends
Yao Hong Ying’s Embroidery Exhibition at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery South Island will be wrapping up on 26th July, and during the final few days of the exhibition will be in Christchurch, the art gallery has witnessed well over 350 visitors each day, as everyone grasped at their final chances of seeing Ms. Yao’s magical embroidery before it disappears from New Zealand soil for good.
On 25th July, Australia's well-known embroidery artist Ms. Alison Cole, in the company of her friends, arrived at FGY Art Gallery South Island at 4:00pm to experience the highly commended embroidery artworks of Ms. Yao. While at the Art Gallery, little did she know, not only did she have the chance to see Ms. Yao’s works; she also had the chance to meet the creator behind all the extraordinary works!
Just like meeting a long lost sister for the first time, the two embroidery artists engaged in a dialogue, where Ms. Yao confided that being able to meet another embroidery artist outside of China has made her trip to Christchurch all the more worthwhile, while Ms. Cole expressed that it was such an honour to be able to meet an embroidery grandmaster of Suzhou here in Christchurch.
In the elegant environment of the Art Gallery, the artists shared their experience in embroidery art with each other, and even though there was a language barrier, nothing could stop the dialogue in its path, compliments to Venerable Abbess Manshin’s translation. Being the bridge between the two languages, Venerable Abbess Manshin provided the artists an opportunity of speaking their minds. The two international artists discussed Western and Oriental embroidery in great detail, sharing ideas along the way.
Learning that Ms. Cole’s birthday was just around the corner, Yao Hong Ying presented Ms. Cole with a special embroidered scarf as a birthday gift. Ms. Cole also invited Ms. Yao to visit Christchurch Art Gallery to view her works. Before Ms. Cole’s departure, the two new found friends had a photo together, along with their art works. This special moment has added a chapter to the much-told tale of Ms. Yao’s Embroidery Exhibition in Christchurch.