In the fifth greenhouse of Guangzhou's Orchid Garden, nearly 20 pieces of pith paintings, an intangible cultural heritage, are quietly displayed, presenting a texture and quality akin to embroidery when illuminated by light. These paintings feature auspicious flowers and butterflies, wishes for the Chinese New Year expressed in Cantonese, city flower kapok, and Lingnan landscapes.

Recently, the 31st Guangzhou Garden Expo opened its Guangzhou Orchid Garden branch, featuring a variety of exciting exhibitions and over ten performance events. Among them, the pith paintings of "Greater Bay Area's Historical Memory" are showcased in the fifth greenhouse, revealing the unique charm of Guangzhou through delicate and exquisite artwork.

Pith paintings originated in the 19th century by folk painters from the Thirteen Hongs in Guangzhou as a type of export painting. It is based on traditional Chinese fine brushwork techniques, incorporating Western techniques such as chiaroscuro. The subjects of pith paintings include social scenes, flora and fauna of the Lingnan region, and the bustling trade between China and the West, earning them the nickname "Qing Dynasty's Guangzhou Postcards." In October 2022, pith paintings were included in the eighth batch of Guangzhou's municipal intangible cultural heritage representative project list.

吉祥花蝶、广府新语、市花木棉、岭南风物……广州兰圃第五兰棚内，近20幅非遗通草画静静陈列，光线照射下，呈现出宛如绣品一样的纹理质感。

近日，第31届广州园林博览会广州兰圃分会场开幕，推出多项精彩展览和十余项展演活动，其中在第五兰棚展出“湾区历史记忆”非遗通草画，通过精致小巧的通草画，展现了独特的广府魅力。

通草画是十九世纪由广州十三行民间画匠绘制的一种外销画，以中国工笔画技法为基础，并吸收西方明暗透视等技法绘制而成。通草画的题材囊括岭南地区的社会百态、花鸟虫鱼以及中西贸易往来的盛况，被称为“清代广府明信片”。2022年10月，通草画入选第八批广州市级非遗代表性项目名录。

文 | 羊城晚报全媒体记者 孙牧 通讯员 人民公园管理中心

图 | 通讯员供图

译 |刘佳慧 洪婷