Cultural connections

"I don't want these artisans to become overnight celebrities because of my documentaries," he says. "If demand for their works skyrockets and goes beyond their capacity, their outstanding personal techniques could easily be taken over by brands－products made by others that simply carry their labels. This will make the whole process meaningless."

Li Xiaoke, a renowned ink-wash painter, has also offered support to these artisans. He has ordered products from an ink-maker involved in Luo's project.

"If we look back at the grand architecture or the Buddhist grottoes of ancient China, we will see that most historic monuments were built by ordinary artisans who remain anonymous," Li says.

"We should honor these artisans today. Their lifetimes of persistence are much more than simply about making livings. Their works of intangible cultural heritage should prompt us to re-evaluate our modern lives, both culturally and emotionally."