Painter Zhang Xing carefully dabbed black pigment onto a ladle, accentuating a part that would be a melancholy eye of a female Peking Opera singer. He expects attention to his work, but is taking all the time he needs.
The 40-year-old painter is among 27 Chinese folk artists selected to demonstrate their skills in the Olympic Village, the athletes' compound for the Beijing Olympics.
From ancient times, the ladle masks, usually made of willow woods, were used to exorcise evils and pray for auspice and safety. Along with other traditional Chinese arts like shadow plays, embroidery, clay sculpture and kite-making, the ladle masking became windows to showcase the folk arts that have become rarities.
"I'm not sure if the overseas friends in the village can identify with this kind of art, but this is part of the culture that I grew up in, and I am glad to share with them," said Zhang, who is from in Baoji, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
Zhang learned the painting skills from her mother who was skilled in making folk crafts. He only turned to the ladle painting for a career when he sensed a trend of returning to the traditions.
"Interest in folk art have been revived in recent years, and it would be great if more people could learn and appreciate my works," he said.
The Chinese Traditional Arts and Crafts Show, located in the international area of the village, is part of the efforts to offer the delegation members a full experience with Chinese culture.
"The village is a place where the athletes can unwind and get to know Chinese culture. I am sure they will find the culture and arts very interesting," said Deng Yaping, a four-time Olympic table tennis champion and the village spokeswoman.
At another table near Zhang Xing's, clay sculptor Zhang Hongyue sprayed water onto a chunk of clay as he began making it into a male figurine. "The air conditioning is too strong, and the clay gets dry easily," he explained.
Zhang is the fifth generation of a family from the port city Tianjin who had a century's experience of making exquisite clay figurines. "If the athletes like, I can also do clay sculpture of them right here. It just takes more time," he said.
Yu Zhihai, deputy chief of the show center, said the Olympics provided a great opportunity for overseas visitors to engage with Chinese folk art.
"It's a great chance to revitalize the fading Chinese traditions, and it's also an opportunity of cultural sharing among people from countries probably the furthest apart," he said.
Akuele Ayeletelawson-hellu, Togo's chef de mission, said she has only seen art works in the Chinese mission in her country, and was amazed to see the artists actually making the crafts.
Besides the show center, other Chinese motifs punctuate the village, located in the northern part of Beijing near the main Bird's Nest stadium.
Village secretary-general Wu Jingmi said it was built according to IOC (International Olympic Committee) rules, but elements of Chinese culture have been woven into its design and decoration, making it not just any other village.
The village mayor's office itself was transformed from a dragon king's temple which served from the 16th century as a place to pray for ample rainfall needed by a bumper harvest.
In the village's recreation area, clusters of red lanterns lined up garden paths, while apartments in the residential area were connected by Chinese courtyard features like wooden bridge and lily ponds. Other Chinese elements include using colors of Beijing's grey brick walls, white stone balconies and paper-cuts.
Chinese acupuncture and martial arts shows, which village officials said will be made available to athletes, will only reinforce the cultural experience.
The village was officially opened on Sunday morning with a Chinese ceremony, with a red mahogany gate set up at the center stage. Rosa Maria Calaf, Asia-Pacific bureau chief of the Television of Spain said the red gate design was very impressive and creative.
