doi: 10.56294/sctconf2024.1385

REVIEW

The function of Henan traditional folk art schema in Public Art Design

La función del esquema del arte popular tradicional Henan en el diseño de arte público

Yihan Zhao^1,2 *, Sophia Sandeep Gaikwad¹

¹Faculty of Social Science Arts and Humanities, Lincoln University College. Malaysia, 47301.

²Pingdingshan College. China, 467000.

Cite as: Zhao Y, Sandeep Gaikwad S. The function of Henan traditional folk art schema in Public Art Design. Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología - Serie de Conferencias. 2024; 3:.1385. https://doi.org/10.56294/sctconf2024.1385

Submitted: 11-05-2024          Revised: 20-09-2024          Accepted: 09-12-2024          Published: 10-12-2024

Editor: Dr. William Castillo-González

Corresponding author: Yihan Zhao *

ABSTRACT

Henan Province, often regarded as the cradle of Chinese civilization, is famous for its rich heritage of traditional folk art. These art forms, extremely intertwined with the region’s cultural identity, are not only valuable as cultural artifacts but also serve as a powerful source of encouragement for contemporary Public Art (PA) design. The function of Henan’s traditional folk art schema in shaping modern PA, focusing on how folk motifs, patterns, and symbolism are incorporated into PA installations. Henan’s diverse folk art traditions, such as the complicated paper-cutting, sophisticated ceramics, and the profound symbolism of bronze, offer a distinct aesthetic language that informs PA designs in urban spaces. Through a qualitative analysis of case studies, this research examines notable PA projects in Henan, including the murals at Zhengzhou’s Erqi Square, the Song-inspired displays at Kaifeng’s Iron Pagoda Park, the structural design embellishments in Yingcheng Folk Culture Street, and the thematic installation at the Luoyang Peony Festival. These examples reveal the seamless blending of traditional folk art with present artistic expression, representing the ability of conventional schemas to bridge the gap between history and modernity. The research highlights that folk art forms not only preserve cultural heritage but also transform public spaces by enriching the visual landscape, fostering community identity, and sparking cultural dialogue. In conclusion, incorporating Henan’s folk art into PA design plays a vital role in the renewal and preservation of cultural heritage, reinforcing the significance of traditional arts in the developing cultural description of modern cities.

Keywords: Henan Province; Traditional Folk Art; Aesthetic Integration; Art Installations; Public Art (PA) Design; Folk Art Schema.

RESUMEN

La provincia de Henan, a menudo considerada la cuna de la civilización china, es famosa por su rico patrimonio de arte popular tradicional. Estas formas artísticas, extremadamente entrelazadas con la identidad cultural de la región, no sólo son valiosas como artefactos culturales, sino que también sirven de poderosa fuente de estímulo para el diseño contemporáneo de Arte Público (AP). La función del esquema del arte popular tradicional de Henan en la configuración de la AP moderna, centrándose en cómo los motivos, patrones y simbolismo populares se incorporan a las instalaciones de AP. Las diversas tradiciones del arte popular de Henan, como el complicado corte de papel, la sofisticada cerámica y el profundo simbolismo del bronce, ofrecen un lenguaje estético distinto que informa los diseños de AP en espacios urbanos. A través de un análisis cualitativo de estudios de casos, esta investigación examina notables proyectos de megaproyectos en Henan, como los murales de la plaza Erqi de Zhengzhou, las exposiciones inspiradas en la canción del parquede la Pagoda de Hierro de Kaifeng, los adornos estructurales de la calle de la cultura popular de Yingcheng y la instalación temática del Festival de la Peonía de Luoyang. Estos ejemplos revelan la perfecta fusión del arte popular tradicional con la expresión artística actual, lo que representa la capacidad de los esquemas convencionales para tender puentes entre la historia y la modernidad. La investigación pone de relieve que las formas de arte popular no sólo preservan el patrimonio cultural, sino que también transforman los espacios públicos enriqueciendo el paisaje visual, fomentando la identidad de la comunidad y suscitando el diálogo cultural. En conclusión, la incorporación del arte popular de Henan al diseño de AP desempeña un papel vital en la renovación y preservación del patrimonio cultural, reforzando la importancia de las artes tradicionales en la descripción cultural en desarrollo de las ciudades modernas.

Palabras clave: Provincia de Henan; Arte Popular Tradicional; Integración Estética; Instalaciones de Arte; Diseño de Arte Público (PA); Esquema de Arte Popular.

INTRODUCTION

Wide variations of artistic appearances that are inflexibly anchored in the ancient, social, and artistic settings of communities are included in traditional folk art. These artistic civilizations are handed down through the groups and frequently capture the daily routines, morals, and traditions of a particular community.⁽¹⁾ Folk art encompasses a variety of media, together with painting, sculpture, weaving, ceramics, and needlework, and is usually characterized by simple, lively, and significant patterns.⁽²⁾ In contrast to formal or theoretical art, traditional folk art is typically fashioned by community associates or self-taught artists utilizing nearby sourced materials and a method that has been improved over time. In addition to providing visual representation, these pieces of art also relate stories, uphold imposts, and reinforce cultural identity within a group.⁽³⁾ Henan traditional folk art is a rich and varied legacy that attract tourists to the traditions, history, and aesthetics of the province in essential China. It incorporates expressive techniques derived from local folklore and everyday life, such as shadow puppetry, clay statuette, woodblock printing, and paper cutting.⁽⁴⁾ Figure 1 represents the major aspects of Henan traditional folk artwork and it also features characteristic musical traditions, including local operas like the Henan Opera, as well as traditional performances and dance forms.

Figure 1. Major aspects of Henan traditional folk artwork

These artistic appearances have a strong mystical and social bond with the public and are regularly used as a platform for communal celebrations, cultural preservation, and storytelling.⁽⁵⁾ Rich in significance and originality, Henan’s folk art is not just a reflection of the region’s cultural past but also a living tradition that continues to thrive and develop in present times.⁽⁶⁾ Henan’s conventional folk-art schema in PA activity integrates the region’s rich cultural heritage, drawing from centuries-old artistic practices that reflect the customs, beliefs, and daily living of its people.⁽⁷⁾ Entrenched in the artistic traditions of Henan, one of China’s oldest provinces, this schema includes a blend of local elements such as concerned wood carvings, colorful paper cuttings, embroidery, and ceramics, often containing symbolic motifs like dragons, phoenixes, and other folkloric creature.⁽⁸⁾ These artworks are essential not only as witness to Henan’s history but are also employed in PA design to convey cultural identity, foster community assembly, and enhance the visual aesthetics of urban spaces. By including traditional folk art in modern PA projects, inventors observe regional distinctiveness while inspiring cultural immovability and community assignation.⁽⁹⁾ The shortage of land resources in China, along with the disregard for traditional district culture, has resulted in a lack of engagement and a sense of belonging in urban environments, as stated in.⁽¹⁰⁾ It has evolved in a propensity of landscape homogeneity, particularly in metropolitan complexes. It has centered on creating urban complex landscapes that satisfy aesthetic and social requirements while incorporating regional peculiarities. Globalization and the social financial system contributed to cultural fusion, which has influenced Chinese folk art and rejected traditional general features.⁽¹¹⁾ Strengthening folk art learning is critical for developing individuality, nurturing aesthetic sense, and preserving traditional culture. Regular education is made accessible by the rapid development of information technology, which includes handheld learning devices, mobile internet, and network multimedia.⁽¹²⁾ Utilizing smart mobile devices for folk art education encourage in-depth inquiry, adapt learning approaches to individualized research, as well as safeguard and preserve infringing art. The advance supports the preservation and strengthening of traditional traditions and national identity. The main effects emphasize the village’s cultural significance, principally the maintenance of traditions, including yearly events and abilities such as ceramics and weaving. Mountains and rivers are regarded as sacred, demonstrating symbolism in the relationship between humans and their surroundings.⁽¹³⁾

The hamlet has a well-built belief structure based on deity and nature spirits. Intangible cultural legacy, such as the Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Art (HCFCA), is a cultural development impacted by creature response to shifting surroundings.

This research investigates the influence of Henan’s traditional folk art on modern public art design, focusing on its integration of motifs, patterns, and symbolism in urban installations, highlighting its role in preserving cultural heritage and enhancing contemporary public spaces.

Overview of Henan’s traditional folk 

Henan Province, considered to be the structure of Chinese civilization, has a rich past that has greatly influenced its traditional folk art. Henan, a pivotal area in China’s cultural progress, is home to historic capitals like Kaifeng and Luoyang, which shaped the country’s artistic civilizations. The region’s art forms, including intricate paper-cutting, refined ceramics, and representational bronze craftsmanship, trace their origins back to dynasties like the Shang, Zhou, and Tang. These art forms reflect the ethical, spiritual, and practical needs of the people, including motifs inspired by nature, mythology, and Confucian ideals. Over centuries, Henan’s folk art became an integral part of daily life, used in rituals, celebrations, and storytelling. This historical legacy not only preserved educational identity but also laid the foundation for integrating traditional aesthetics into contemporary art, making it applicable in today’s public and urban spaces.

Various forms of Henan folk art

The following four factors (Practical value, Artistic value, Tourism value, Cultural value) primarily demonstrate Henan folk art’s outstanding artistic quality, diverse forms, and compelling human appeal. This traditional, cultural and artistic resource continues to be highly valuable and vibrant today. 

Practical value

The early period of folk artistic work focused on utilitarian purposes, with crafts like embroidered shoes and porcelain jars serving both practical and aesthetic purposes. Over generations of craftsmen, a beautiful form of folk art has emerged in many facets of life. For instance, Festival-related Henan traditional paper-cutting art demonstrates its usefulness and legacy. Another popular example is the perfume satchel art, woven with colorful wires and various vanillas, which is used for parasite exclusion and dispelling diseases. This organic unification between utilitarian and aesthetics gives Henan folk art an immortal life due to its inherent value.

Artistic value

The straightforward aesthetic ideal that defines the Chinese people is reflected in Henan folk art, with traditional elements and usual elements being used for creativity. The art provides physical and mental relaxation, enhancing emotions. Henan’s way of life has preserved old Eastern cultural ambiances, which some artists blend with natural creative mediums to produce individual styles. In many artistic works, this result is rich in national traits. Folk art’s creative significance endures despite fluctuations in its forms and substance over time. The artistic worth of the art is increased by the way of living in Henan, which preserves organic artistic methods and oriental artistic atmospheres.   

Tourism value

Tourism has significantly impacted local economies, with popular rivers and mountains becoming tourist attractions. Folk cultures, particularly traditional crafts, have become popular shopping destinations. These creative forms have been revitalized by the tourist sector, increasing their tourism value. For example, Kaifeng, Henan’s Millennium City Park re-mines and recovers vanished folk artworks and displays them organized. Visitors can take in on-site performances such as acrobatics, bird training, and cock fighting, as well as Bian needlework, wood plate New Year drawings, sugar and dough figures, along with kites. This has attracted many tourists, making Henan folk art an important tourism resource.

Cultural value

Folk art is a crucial aspect of national culture, and it is essential for preserving and advancing it. It is an expression of folk traditions, involving several aspects of people’s lives. Henan folk art, principally the mud dog in Huaiyang, Henan, is known for its simplicity and naturalness, making it deeply loved by people. Despite changes in times, the cultural temper of this art remains strong, despite the original function being diluted. Thus, considering and preserving folk art is crucial for preserving and sponsoring national individuality.

Henan’s Diverse Folk Art Traditions

It includes sensitive paper-cutting, advanced porcelain, and significant bronze art, all of which have distinct aesthetic potentials that heavily impact current PA concepts, particularly in metropolitan settings. These art forms are wealthy in history and cultural importance, providing a distinct visual dialectal that connects contemporary urban designs with traditional cultural expressions.

Description of Paper-cut Art Developments in Henan

Henan folk paper-cut art, a traditional Chinese art form, is an energetic expression of the people’s true feelings and cultural heritage; an instance of paper-cut art is shown in Figure 2. This art form, rooted in the people’s production, life, and folk activities, features intricate designs depicting nature, folklore, and daily life.^{(14,15,16,17)} Window grilles, wall grilles, and contented flowers are a few examples that show the working people perceive the world and their desire for a better life.

Figure 2. Traditional artwork of paper-cut

The artwork, which is frequently utilized for festivals and ceremonies, is well known for its complicated patterns and delicate craftsmanship. These motifs are transformed into vast connections in PA, producing dynamic visual experiences that blend modern methods with traditional images. Paper-cutting’s flowing, natural design incorporates both artistic consistency in urban settings and a sense of local distinctiveness.

Description of Refined Ceramics

Henan has a long history of making high-quality ceramics, especially from old kiln sites like Luoyang. Rich glazes, elaborate designs, and representational motifs frequently associated with harmony, riches, and nature are hallmarks of the province’s exquisite ceramics and stoneware. These ceramic designs have an impact on architectural accompaniments, sculptures, and even concrete in urban PA, where Henan ceramics’ textures, colors, and patterns are combined into the contemporary environment. Because of its artistic application, ceramic art reinforces cultural history while accumulating a tactile, classic characteristic of urban areas.

Symbolism of Bronze Art

Henan is also recognized for its bronze art, particularly that of the Shang and Zhou periods. These items, which include ceremonial tools and vessels, have deep symbolic meanings that are connected to spiritual beliefs, rituals, and influence. Bronze art provides a prevailing visual language that can be translated into contemporary PA through the utilization of arithmetic shapes, mythical creatures, and animal motifs. Because of its potency and symbolic allegation, bronze is frequently used to create sculptures, monuments, and fountains that not only evoke the essence of Henan’s history but also serve as a lasting link to the province’s cultural heritage.

Distinct Aesthetic Language in PA

Urban environments transmit an association of history and modernity through the absorption of these old folk-art elements into modern PA design. Cities’ visual richness is enhanced by PA installations that use paper-cutting, ceramics, and bronze themes. These works offer a unique aesthetic language that imprisons Henan’s cultural quality. These art forms communicate universal themes of nature, spirituality, and the people while fostering a sense of place, identity, and continuity in the urban environment. By blending these traditions with contemporary materials and techniques, PA in Henan’s cities not only honors the past but also bridges the gap between traditional art forms and modern urban life.

Interventions to Improve the Safeguarding of Henan Traditional Art

The government, specialists, researchers, and inheritors should work together to create and preserve Henan folk art. To enhance the quality of artworks and broaden the horizons of inheritors, a long-term system for the heirloom of folk cultural remnants should be put into place, including references from professionals and researchers. Intangible cultural relic files, image and video databases, and digital museums must be established in order to produce art that is accessible to the general public. To promote⁽¹⁸⁾ cultural defense responsiveness and spread knowledge about folk art creation, more media should be employed. Growing the social and commercial worth of folk artworks, emerging an industrialization plan, and developing a brand strategy with Henan landscapes are also essential. Henan should promote the inheritance of folk art in contemporary society, control the manufacture of folk art cohesively, create production and sales firms, and highlight limited traits. Moreover important are bolstering the folk-art sector, conserving and making use of resources, seeking financial gains derived from cultural heritage, and contributing to sustainable development.    

Several significant public art initiatives in Henan

Characteristics of Murals at Zhengzhou’s Erqi Square

The murals at Zhengzhou’s Erqi Square, represented in figure 3, are prominent examples of integrating Henan’s traditional folk art into public spaces. These murals blend traditional Chinese artistic elements, such as motifs inspired by paper-cutting and bronze art, with modern techniques of large-scale mural painting.

Figure 3. Erqi Memorial Tower

The designs frequently feature historical and cultural scenes, emphasizing Henan’s rich legacy. The artworks preserve traditional culture while maintaining it accessible to modernized urbanites through their vibrant colors and dramatic compositions. By combining historical symbols with contemporary artistic language, PA acts as a connection between the history and present, involving the public while maintaining cultural identity.

Song-Inspired Displays at Kaifeng’s Iron Pagoda Park

Henan was a cultural and political hub during the Song Dynasty, which is reflected in the PA displays at Kaifeng’s Iron Pagoda Park, as depicted in Figure 4. Ceramics, inscriptions, and ink paintings are illustrations of traditional folk art equipment characteristic of the Song-inspired installations.

Figure 4. Iron Pagoda of Kaifeng

These devices endeavor to capture the cultural diversity of the time while modernizing their design to appeal to contemporary sensibilities. Song motifs are utilized in combination with contemporary equipment and techniques to establish a conversation between the history and present. This advances the park’s aesthetic appeal and informs visitors about the Song Dynasty’s historical consequences in Henan.

Architectural Embellishments in Yingcheng Folk Culture Street

Yingcheng Folk Culture Street is a vibrant cultural hub in Henan that integrates traditional artistic essentials into its architecture, which is displayed in figure 5. The street’s architectural embellishments, including ceramic tiles, attractive stone carvings, and elaborate woodwork, illustrate seriously from Henan’s folk-art traditions.

Figure 5. Center Street view of Yingcheng

These embellishments serve as both efficient and aesthetic features, providing a modern circumstance for ancient artistic practice. By incorporating symbolic motifs from Henan’s ceramic and paper-cutting traditions, the architectural intent fosters a sense of place that credit the region’s cultural heritage while enhancing the urban environment. This blending of folk art with current design exemplifies how traditional schemas can be revitalized in modern public spaces.

Thematic Installations at the Luoyang Peony Festival

One of Henan’s most important cultural events, the Luoyang Peony Festival, shown in figure 6, represents a variety of themed PA projects that honor the area’s cultural inheritance with contemporary artistic expression. A major theme in the festival’s public address displays is the peony, which is a representation of riches and success in Chinese culture. Traditional folk art forms such as ceramic sculptures, lanterns, and material installations are used to create stunning visual representations of the peony flower.

These installations seamlessly blend Henan’s folk art traditions with contemporary artistic techniques, drawing on both traditional symbolism and modern aesthetics to generate a vibrant, immersive occurrence for festival-goers.⁽¹⁹⁾ The thematic installations at the Peony Festival demonstrate how traditional art forms can be adapted to modern cultural celebrations, fostering a connection between history, culture, and contemporary public life.

Bridging History and Modernity

These PA projects exemplify the seamless blending of Henan’s traditional folk art with contemporary artistic expressions. By incorporating historical motifs, symbols, and techniques into modern urban designs, these projects show how traditional schemas can bridge the gap between history and modernity. They reflect the dynamic and evolving nature of cultural heritage, where ancient traditions are preserved and reinterpreted to resonate with contemporary audiences. These PA installations not only enhance the visual landscape of Henan’s urban spaces but also reinforce the region’s cultural identity, demonstrating the ongoing relevance of traditional art forms in the modern world.

Figure 6. Luoyang Museum

Promoting Henan traditional folk art culture

Combining traditional arts and cultures with contemporary technological developments is vital for stimulating economic growth and building productive forces. A technical innovation system centered on firms and guided by markets addresses the impact of cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data. This could enhance the current cultural industry, market system, production and procedure mechanism, intellectual financial policy, and the development of innovative cultural companies.

Concentrate on Creating a Brand via Art Cultural Investments

The text emphasizes the importance of using the internet for all-round marketing, particularly through social platforms and e-commerce platforms. Brands are trade names and trademarks used in the commodity economy, serving as the basis for public distinction. Regional branding is based on elements such as substantial production capability, market share, and the effect of industry goods within a specific administrative geographical area. Two key elements of regional branding are strong regional characteristics and brand characteristics that influence customer loyalty in the region. Henan’s cultural and artistic resources, such as Shaolin culture, Henan opera, and Jun porcelain, have distinct characteristics and strong appeal. Building these brands assists in promoting local economic development and becomes the golden signboard for the region. Currently, conventional civilization and art enterprises in Henan are excessively focused on brand publicity and communication. By leveraging these resources, the region effectively promotes its economic growth and cultural heritage. Originally a single street, the county’s primary revenue source is agriculture. Henan should transform its historical and cultural assets into financial benefits and create cultural enterprises based on regional distinctiveness. For Henan’s culture and art industry to flourish, form production, management, and brand operation, all with strong government support, should be essential.

Enhance Legislative Cooperation

Henan’s industrialization of traditional culture and art is based on strong innovation and ability. Despite having great inheritors and handicraft producers, there exists a scarcity of people capable of integrating cultural assets into cross-border designs as well as deep interaction with other businesses. Henan also lacks a staff with experience in consumer behavior as well as a global perspective on cultural and creative planning and operations. The weaknesses are most visible in AI, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing. To accomplish it, Henan should provide design ability, rely on universities and businesses to facilitate school-business collaboration, promote good cultural and artistic initiatives, recruit exceptional designers, and guide students via practical training.

Artwork colleges and universities deserve additional financing and preferred regulations, and social forces should be encouraged to establish specialized centers and organizations for creative work, musical design, films, and media. Professionals in cultural organizations should perform research and development in the culture and art industries, with a thorough understanding of literature, aesthetics, history, and marketing, to operate and manage businesses and increase the market. The management should provide an adaptable work environment, beneficial therapy, and an incentive system to allow extraordinarily high-end individuals to prove their creative genius and drive, as well as to revitalize traditional culture.

Investigation on the current status of Henan traditional arts

Henan’s folk artworks are primarily based on folk legends and are crafted from various materials such as stones, ink slabs, animal skin, lacquer, wood, cloth, reeds crafting, celebration images, granite, and crystal. These artworks symbolize longevity, health, family flourishing, auspiciousness, wealth, and harmony, showcasing the traditional Chinese culture.

Classifications of Henan Traditional Folk Art

Henan, China’s folk-art categories are dropping, with some declining dramatically when compared to their peak. The major cause for the reduction is the aging tendency of folk craftspeople, with the oldest in Henan being 109 years old. The variety of ordinary practitioners in these categories has similarly declined, with some losing their inheritors. For instance, the mud toy in Luoyang, a folk-art sculpture with limited peculiarities, has absent offspring. Shadow play, a traditional folk-art form, is experiencing a decline in popularity, with many groups potentially disappearing within decades if the situation worsens.

Folk Traditional Technology Decline

The rapid development of civilization continues to have a profound influence on the folk-art heritage, leading to the elimination of traditional materials and processes. Traditional methods, such as the black in Zhuxianzhen’s wood plate New Year painting, include combining wood ash and fluid, grinding with a limestone process, and filtration with rough fabric. However, this complex procedure is rarely performed, and instead, conventional paint is utilized. The technique of New Year image painting has also lessened, with shades such as water red and orange no longer being printed.

The Surface Production of Traditional Folk Artworks

The challenging production of Henan traditional artworks is a severe problem because of the economic benefits of industrialization. Industrialization encourages the growth of folk art while increasing revenues, prompting some inheritors to prioritize profit over aesthetic advancement.⁽²⁰⁾ Furthermore, the majority of Henan’s inheritors of intangible cultural heritages complete elementary or secondary middle school, leaving them with minimal further education and awareness of traditional cultures. The lack of education leads to blunders in the production of artworks.

Limited Cultivation of the Heritage of Folk Artworks

Folk artworks are undervalued, despite local government efforts to preserve their heritage. Inadequate resources, insufficient safeguard strategy, and financial hardship lead to unaddressed art forms. This disrupts traditional practices and risks the loss of intangible cultural heritage. Collaborative efforts between government, cultural organizations, and communities are needed for sustainable preservation. As a cultural artifact, folk art must be safeguarded from subsequent generations. Despite local government involvement in this area, there are indeed problems, and many categories have not been addressed. Inheritors frequently confront difficult circumstances, such as shifting their careers to support their families.

The integration of Henan folk art in public art design

Henan’s rich folk art traditions, including paper-cutting, ceramics, and bronze art, provide a wealth of aesthetic and symbolic elements that can greatly enhance PA design. By incorporating these traditional art forms into modern public spaces, designers can not only preserve the cultural heritage of the region but also infuse urban areas with unique and meaningful visual expressions. For instance, murals and sculptures in Henan often integrate motifs from traditional art forms, such as peonies and auspicious symbols, which are commonly used to represent prosperity, harmony, and longevity. These elements offer a sense of continuity between past and present, allowing modern urbanites to connect with their cultural roots while experiencing contemporary artistic expressions. This fusion of old and new strengthens the role of PA in building community identity and cultural pride.

Cultural preservation and modern public art transformation

The application of Henan’s traditional folk art in PA design also plays a key role in the renewal and transformation of public spaces. For example, urban installations like those in Zhengzhou’s Erqi Square and Kaifeng’s Iron Pagoda Park showcase how historical art forms can be reinterpreted to fit contemporary settings, creating a dialogue between the traditional and the modern. These installations not only contribute to the visual aesthetics of the city but also encourage cultural engagement by stimulating public reflection on the region’s heritage. By integrating folk art in this way, PA projects in Henan transform otherwise mundane urban spaces into sites of cultural storytelling and celebration. Moreover, they help to foster a sense of place and belonging, making cultural heritage an active, living part of the urban experience, thus ensuring its preservation for future generations.

CONCLUSION

The integration of Henan’s traditional folk art schema into PA design demonstrates a powerful synergy between cultural heritage and contemporary urban aesthetics. By incorporating motifs, patterns, and symbolic elements from Henan’s rich folk art traditions, such as intricate paper-cutting, sophisticated ceramics, and symbolic bronze art of PA installations, not only preserve and celebrate historical identity but also reimagine it for modern urban contexts. Case studies, including the murals at Zhengzhou’s Erqi Square, the Song-inspired displays at Kaifeng’s Iron Pagoda Park, and thematic installations at the Luoyang Peony Festival, demonstrate how traditional art can revitalize public spaces, foster a strong sense of community identity, and encourage cultural dialogue. This blending of past and present transforms urban spaces into vibrant cultural landmarks, ensuring that traditional arts remain relevant and appreciated in the evolving narrative of modern cities. By bridging history and modernity, Henan’s folk art served as both a cultural touchstone and a dynamic tool for innovation in PA design, reinforcing its vital role in preserving and advancing the region’s unique artistic legacy. It explored the influence of Henan’s traditional folk art on contemporary PA design, focusing on its intricate paper-cutting, refined ceramics, and symbolic depth. This fusion preserves the cultural heritage, revitalizes spaces, fosters community identity, and bridges the gap between history and modernity in urban narratives.  

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FINANCING

The authors did not receive financing for the development of this research.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTION

Drafting - original draft: Yihan Zhao, Sophia Sandeep Gaikwad.

Writing - proofreading and editing: Yihan Zhao, Sophia Sandeep Gaikwad.