When the Feitian (Flying Apsaras) murals of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes leap from weathered cave walls into daily life, and when flowing robes and graceful ribbons become pen holders and bookmarks that accompany your workday – this is the original vision behind CAFA Cultural and Creative’s “Dunhuang Feitian” series: to turn classic art from museums into tangible, usable pieces of life aesthetics.
The “Dunhuang Feitian” series was born from a field trip by CAFA faculty and students to the Dunhuang Grottoes. Faced with the vibrant colors and smooth lines of the “Two Feitian” murals in the Tang Dynasty Cave 320, the design team did not simply replicate the artwork. Instead, they used modern design language to “simplify”: extracting the most recognizable “ribbon curves” from the murals as product outlines, converting ochre and lapis lazuli (traditional mineral pigments) into soft tones suitable for daily use, and even replicating the subtle texture of the murals – which have endured for a thousand years – on the surface of the pen holders.
We hope every product can convey the story behind the art. For example, the hollowed-out design of the Feitian bookmark draws inspiration from the lotus flowers held by Feitian in the murals; when unfolded, it feels as if you can see the petals trembling gently. The base of the desktop ornament is engraved with a short phrase from the mural inscriptions: “Heavenly robes flutter, filling the wall with motion” – a quiet detail that echoes the origin of the art. A customer once shared that placing the “Feitian” pen holder on their desk makes every time they pick up a pen feel like a conversation with a thousand-year-old civilization. This is exactly the meaning of our cultural and creative products: to let art go beyond appreciation and integrate into every moment of life.
