China’s Traditional Straw Art

Magnolia flowers and birds – straw art by Chen Zhenqiang (陈振强)

Chen Zhenqiang is a Chinese peasant and has never received any art training in his life. But he loves art.

It was until ten years ago in his fifties, he decided to become a fulltime on straw art.

Magnolia is native flora to eastern and central China and has been cultivated as garden flora since the 7th century. Its fragrant blossom is regarded as a symbol of purity and is the official city flower of Shanghai.

Chinese Magpies are viewed as lucky birds and the messengers for good news, featured in a popular tale about the love between a Chinese peasant and a female immortal.