Students of Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang, Hunan province, transform everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces during the school's Art Week event on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
In a remarkable blend of creativity and cultural appreciation, children at a primary school in Central China's Hunan province have transformed everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces, merging traditional art with modern environmental consciousness.
At Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang city, 38 distinctively crafted opera headdresses were presented by the students on Wednesday, each uniquely designed by the children using fabric scraps, spare buttons, colorful strings, and other repurposed materials.
Students of Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang, Hunan province, transform everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces during the school's Art Week event on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The children created these pieces as part of the school's Art Week event, explained art teacher Zheng Hanying, who organized the activity.
"It took them nearly a semester to prepare," Zheng said. She added that Art Week is a long-standing tradition at the school, held around the New Year for years.
Students of Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang, Hunan province, transform everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces during the school's Art Week event on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
To deepen the students' understanding of the cultural background of traditional Chinese operas, teachers introduced them to headpieces from classical operas such as the Peking Opera and the Kunqu Opera through images and videos.
During the creative process, students collected discarded fabric from tailor shops, buttons from old clothes, and used packaging cords — transforming what would typically be waste into artistic treasures. For instance, one student crafted woven beaded tassels inspired by phoenix coronets, a classic headpiece worn by empresses in Chinese history and opera scenes.
Students of Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang, Hunan province, transform everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces during the school's Art Week event on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"Using recycled materials is not just about being environmentally friendly," Zheng noted. "It is also about showing children that elements from our cultural heritage can be part of everyday life."
"We have taught them about opera culture before, but this time the children experienced it in a tangible way," she added.
Students of Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang, Hunan province, transform everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces during the school's Art Week event on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Students of Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang, Hunan province, transform everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces during the school's Art Week event on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Students of Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang, Hunan province, transform everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces during the school's Art Week event on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Students of Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang, Hunan province, transform everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces during the school's Art Week event on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Students of Dajieling Primary School in Ningxiang, Hunan province, transform everyday materials into elaborate Chinese opera headpieces during the school's Art Week event on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
