Letter From the Editor: Celebrating Colour

As the winter snow begins to melt, spring breezes arrive to blow away the greyness, leaving a trail of colour in their wake. It’s at such times that we remember the words of English artist John Ruskin: “Of all God’s gifts to the sighted man, colour is the holiest, the most divine, the most solemn.”

In this issue of Magnifissance, we take a kaleidoscopic journey through the world of colour, starting with Shen Yun Performing Arts. Inspired by China’s rich 5,000-year history, every moment of a Shen Yun performance is a feast for the eyes, and each year’s poster brings extraordinary colour combinations. Inspired by their heavenly palette, we’ve curated four unique collections of home décor and fashion items to bring a touch of Shen Yun’s beauty into your daily life.

At Belvoir Castle, one of England’s grandest stately homes, the walls have enchanted viewers with antique Chinese wallpapers since the 1700s. Using traditional hand-painting techniques, British company de Gournay recently restored the castle’s wallpapers, enlivening the historic rooms with vibrant colourations: rich berry tones set against pistachio green and blue birds flying across an apricot background.

In nature, colours can mysteriously change in the blink of an eye. To capture the ephemeral beauty of the world around her, acclaimed photographer Tamara Bahry sometimes waits for months, patiently and mindfully observing the rhythms of nature, to create timeless works of art from fleeting moments of perfection.

Third-generation Taiwanese lacquer artist Wang Junwei introduces us to the rich lustre and refined colouring of 7000-year-old Asian lacquer techniques. Today, few artists carry on these traditions due to their extreme difficulty and long, laborious methodology, but that only adds to the allure of this noble art.

In Eternal Spring, one of the most celebrated documentaries of 2022, director Jason Loftus brilliantly combines animation with real-life footage, using flickers of colour amid scenes of oppression to add hints of nostalgia, heroism, and hope for a better world. The film tells the true story of a small group of Chinese citizens who tapped into the state-run television network to broadcast the truth about their persecuted spiritual practice.

Colours, in their grace and vibrancy, connect us to the deeper beauty of nature and the divine. In the melody of life, colours are what make our daily life uplifting. We hope you enjoy this issue and fill your days with joyful notes of colours.