Stitching together a family legacy

Walking into the Suzhou Art Museum in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, the eyes of visitors are immediately drawn to an artwork hanging high on the wall that depicts the collision of gold nuclei, giving the surface impression of a contemporary art piece.

However, upon closer examination, viewers will see that the luster of its shimmering lines belies the ancient craft of Su embroidery, which originated in the city more than 2,000 years ago.

"Viewers mistake it for an oil painting at first sight. We hope to imbue the traditional craft with contemporary expressions," says Zhang Fan, 48, one of the creators of the piece.