Cantonese Culture from a Foreigner Perspective

Laying down the brush and gathering up a white porcelain plate, Albert Wolfe, who comes from the United States demonstrated his Canton Porcelain work to Mr Zhou. It was a novel experience for him. "There is no similar form of artwork in the United States," said Wolfe.

Albert Wolfe demonstrated his first Canton Porcelain work, on September 16, 2022

On September 16, Phoenix Television invited Albert Wolfe to Yongqingfang, which is an old architectural complex in Liwan District. He will experienced three traditional Cantonese cultures: Canton Porcelain, Olive Pit Carving , and Dancing lion. On the scene, Mr Zhou, an experienced Canton Porcelain maker, introduced Albert to the history of Canton Porcelain and the modern works combining Canton Porcelain and caricature art styles.

Albert had only seen photographs of Canton Porcelain earlier, which means it was his first hands-on experience with making it. Albert felt excited about today's experience: "Before, I tried Canton Porcelain which I thought was beautiful artwork. However, after today I believe it is so difficult that a producer has to spend so much time to finish one work,"

The next step on the cultural tour was Dancing lion. Several Dancing lion heads have been placed on the second floor of the Dancing Lion Cultural and Creative Museum. During the browsing process, Phoenix journalist Xueli Huang introduced the history and which occasion the Dancing lion can be employed.

Nextdoor, another type of cultural exhibit attracted Wolfe's attention. Zeng Xianpeng, now the inheritor of the Olive Pit Carving, was on hand to introduce Albert to the Olive Pit Carving works and tools. Master Zeng said that this craft is now widely studied by students whose from local primary and secondary schools.

Wolfe was surprised when Zeng Xianpeng told him that the tool had been handed down for four generations, on September 16, 2022

Albert said that was not his first visit to Yongqingfang, but it was genuinely his first in-depth experience of traditional Cantonese culture. "Previously, the only thing I knew about Cantonese culture was Cantonese opera, but today I have to say these widen my horizon, especially the Olives Pit Carving."