Chinese Yuhang oil-paper umbrella artisan Liu Youxue will organize a workshop on making small umbrella models. Participants can form a group of two of three to make a small oil-paper umbrella (umbrella fabric diameter is 35 cm).

In Hangzhou City’s Yuhang District, oil-paper umbrellas have been produced since the 18th century. Oil-paper umbrellas in Yuhang are made with high mechanical skills and top materials, which provide their endurance. Prolonged exposure to sunlight and rain does no damage, thus their popularity among common people.

Production requires skilled hands and technique as well as personal experience. Training to become a master in oil-paper umbrella manufacture requires an apprenticeship and a great deal of practice. Apprentices must practice the skills for three years to officially master this technique.

Tools are made by professional blacksmiths. The material of the umbrellas is chosen with care. The umbrella scaffold is made from either bamboo or wood, tied with hair strings. The best umbrellas are made from peach flowers, as the umbrella surface is soaked in persimmon pigment.

The persimmon pigment is made from fermenting the juice of green persimmons, which provides a suitable stickiness. The soaked flower petals are stuck to the umbrella scaffold one by one. Paintings or pictures are drawn on the peach flower petals prior to painting tung oil on top. The finalized umbrella is left to dry in a dry dark room. It requires at least 70 steps to produce a well-crafted oil-paper umbrella.

Time: 3:30-5:30 p.m., Oct. 27

Fees: 120 yuan per team (2-3 persons per team)

Venue: Learning Space, L2, Sea World Culture and Arts Center, 1187 Wanghai Road, Shekou, Nanshan District (南山区蛇口望海路1187号海上世界文化艺术中心L2公教空间)

Metro: Line 2 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A

(SD News)