Witnessing a Huge Swell in the Popularity of Magnificence of Embroidery Exhibition at FGY South Island
Since its opening at Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch in May 2021, the Magnificence of Embroidery Exhibition has received overwhelming responses from the public. Visitors to the exhibition were moved by artist Yao's diligence and dedication and by her excellent embroidery works.
Christchurch resident Carolyn Rosewarne, who is a Friend of FGY, is a New Zealand Maori. After visiting Professor Kuo Yen Chiao’s Traditional Chinese Paintings Exhibition last year, Carolyn was deeply impressed by the essence of Chinese culture. Now after seeing Yao Hong Ying’s high-level embroidery works, she was even more amazed. Carolyn was very interested in the embroidery The Drunken Beauty. She was deeply attracted by its bright colours and was even more amazed after understanding the story behind it. The Drunken Beauty was based on the historical figure, Princess Yang Gui Fei of the Tang Dynasty. The embroidery work portrayed the complicated mood of Yang Gui Fei waiting for the attention of Emperor Tang that changed from anticipation to disappointment and finally to resentment. Later The Drunken Beauty became one of the very popular repertoires of Peking Opera. Carolyn felt that the embroidery work was able to combine historical and cultural background stories to greatly enhance its connotation and value.
The elder of St Michael All Angels Church, Judith M Kaskel, visited FGY Art Gallery Christchurch 7 times to watch the Yao Hong-Ying Embroidery Exhibition 11 years ago. At that time, she became a Friend of FGY and ever since then, Judith would arrange to visit the Gallery whenever she received notification of new exhibition. Judith liked the Temple environment very much and had organised delegation of Church elders to visit the Temple. This time around, Judith felt that it was a rare opportunity to be able to visit the Magnificence of Embroidery Exhibition. So she specially invited her daughter to the Exhibition so that the mother and daughter team could share the joy together.
Michael and Esther Hart have lived in Christchurch for many years. They have passed by the Temple many times but have never stepped into the building. It was not until 15th May 2021 that they arranged to visit the Temple, without realising that the day was the Open Christchurch day and also the day for the Opening Ceremony of the Magnificence of Embroidery Exhibition. The couple were even more surprised to find Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner attending the Opening Ceremony. Their confidence in the Exhibition was boosted after Deputy Mayor Andrew’s affirmation of the event. Michael and Esther were very impressed by Yao Hong Ying's exquisite embroidery works on their 15th May visit, and they decided to come to visit again. On their second visit, they purchased a copy of Yao Hong Ying Embroidery Art Album and also joined to become Friends of FGY.
In mid-May 2021, through a friend’s introduction, Christchurch resident Dave rode a bicycle with a few friends to come and see The Kiss (Klimt) painting in embroidery at the Magnificence of Embroidery Exhibition. People could not believe that this stunning Klimt painting could be presented as an embroidery work. They found it even more incredible to see double-sided embroidery works at the Exhibition. Two weeks after his first visit, Dave brought his wife Fay to the Exhibition. Fay herself is an embroidery lover and felt that Yao Hong Ying's works were unparalleled. A few weeks after his second visit, Dave and two cycling teammates came to the Exhibition again. One of the other two cyclists was a first-time visitor to the Exhibition. She was deeply impressed and vowed to bring her husband to visit the Exhibition.