The ongoing exhibition Attachment to the Hometown presents around 150 baby carriers of different ethnic groups. (Photo provided to China Daily)
The exhibition has around 150 baby carriers from eight ethnic groups, including the Miao, Dong, Shui and Yi, from Guizhou, Hunan and Yunnan provinces as well as the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
The earliest carriers on show were made in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) while the latest are from the 1980s.
Wu Weishan, director of NAMOC, says the carriers on display are testimony to the brilliance of ethnic needlework, which is now giving way to mass production items.
"The art of making baby carriers is a way for the users to showcase their beliefs, their fairy tales and their respect for nature. This item helps bring the audience closer to the soul of these ethnic groups," says Wu. "They are records of human society."
The history, culture and the aesthetics of these groups are seen in the vivid patterns, both realistic and abstract, of these carriers.
The designs often feature animals, too. And while the Miao from Guizhou's Zhijin county prefer geometrical shapes that resemble fish, the Yi feature ram horns to symbolize wealth and use them to create whirlpool-like designs.
