'Mystical Pagoda' exhibition displays gold microcarvings by artist Mei Hua

Mei Hua discusses her work at NUO Hotel Art Space, Beijing, July 14, 2025. The artist recounted her early defiance of the idea that Chinese artists lacked the ability for ultra-fine work. After graduating from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2007, Mei Hua spent an entire year working on a carved timepiece for the 2008 Basel Watch Fair, which would prove to be an important piece in her career. The watch she created, which incorporated the goddess Athena from western mythology, amazed the Swiss and Chinese watch industry and broke the stereotype that China was weak in technology and artistry in the field of metal microcarving. [Photo by Liu Ziying/China.org.cn]