Fashionable Guan Gong: A Modern Twist on Divine Heritage

Reviving Tradition with Innovative Textile Technology

The Fashionable Guan Gong project by Liangi Wu and Chihsiang Li is a testament to the fusion of heritage and innovation. The designers drew inspiration from the traditional clothing of Guan Sheng Dijun, a statue at Taiwan's Daxi Puji Temple, a beacon of intangible cultural heritage. Their goal was to transcend the conventional boundaries of divine clothing embroidery, integrating modern textile technology to breathe new life into age-old techniques. The result is a stage wear piece that not only respects but also revitalizes the cultural narrative of Guan Gong.

What sets this design apart is its unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary applications. The costume features cross-disciplinary textile production techniques, including embroidered fabric labels and lace, to mimic the intricate embroidery of the past. This innovative approach not only preserves the aesthetic of traditional embroidery but also enhances it, allowing for faster production without sacrificing the costume's cultural authenticity. The design stands as a decorative art form, infused with tension and expressiveness, thanks to the traditional embroidery patterns that bring the artwork to life.

The realization of the Fashionable Guan Gong design involved a combination of materials and techniques, such as embroidered fabric labels, embroidery, and mixed media. The designers employed the embroidered fabric label technique to create traditional embroidered lions with a contemporary twist, using Spun Polyester thread for shaping and support. Digital printing and Nylon yarn were utilized to depict the cultural spirit of mountains and seas, a significant motif in Chinese culture. These elements serve both a functional and decorative purpose, enhancing the costume's visual impact.

With variable sizes, the costume caters to a range of performers, ensuring that the design is as versatile as it is visually stunning. The design team, led by Liangi Wu and Chihsiang Li, has crafted a piece that is not only wearable but also serves as installation art. The mixed media components, including aluminum wire and cotton paper, contribute to the creation of hats, clothing, and stylistic accessories that are both aesthetically pleasing and artistically valuable.

The Fashionable Guan Gong project was developed and completed within a month in Taipei, with its debut at the Daxi Martial Arts Hall of Fine Arts. The design process involved extensive research into the Puji Temple's intangible cultural heritage, focusing on the deity Guan Gong. The challenge was to express Eastern deity culture through modern Western tailoring, employing digital algorithms to enhance traditional hand-embroidery with textile technology. The designers sought to discuss new possibilities for traditional craft culture within contemporary design, a dialogue that has earned them the prestigious Golden A' Costume and Heritage Wear Design Award in 2024.

The intellectual property rights for the Fashionable Guan Gong design are secured under patent number M649328, held by Liangi Wu, and are protected until 2033. This recognition of the design's innovation and cultural significance is a testament to the designers' commitment to advancing the field of costume design while honoring their heritage. The Fashionable Guan Gong is not only a garment but a symbol of the harmonious blend of past and future, a narrative woven into the fabric of cultural identity.