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Have you heard of William Morris? The English legendary figure could not simply be defined by one word, as he was a member of the Pre-Raphaelites, a craftsman, a designer, a poet, a novelist, a translator, an architect and often seen as the grandfather of the international Arts and Crafts Movement.

Luckily, now you have the chance to feel the charm of his works alongside other art pieces created by artists from his era.

An exhibition co-hosted by Guangdong Museum, Art Exhibitions China and Victoria and Albert Museum is underway at Guangdong Museum in Guangzhou and will run through October 30, 2024.

Walking into the exhibition hall, you may notice the unique pattern of the wallpaper, which was used through the film My Fair Lady starring Audrey Hepburn. The wallpaper pattern came from “Acanthus” created by Morris over 140 years ago.

One of the best-known exhibits must be Strawberry Thief, a textile with pattern inspired by birds stealing strawberries from Morris's garden. To perfect the color and clearness, he adopted the indigo dye and added cochineal, alizarin red and yellow extracted from mignonette. 

Another artist Walter Crane regarded nature in a more vivacious way. In his work Cockatoo and Pomegranate, he captured the moment of a cockatoo fluttering and tweeting, which was put in the same picture with pomegranate, flowers and outstretched twigs.  

The tapestry panel Pamona gives out a humanistic feeling. Surrounded by flowers and fruits, the mythological figure looks serene and the artwork shows a sense of mystery.

The Owl tapestry combines exotic elements and presents the artist's pursuit of exquisite craft through its sophisticated patterns.

Patterns of Roman Goddess Flora tiles feature cornflower, harebell and columbine, which are presented via balanced composition of picture and aesthetic patterns.

Also on display are practical objects pleasing to the eye.

Charles Robert Ashbee, an English architect and designer who was a prime mover of the Arts and Crafts movement, designed a sugar spoon with hollow patterns and a butter knife with silver thread at the bottom.

Through a minimalistic fireplace, you can learn about craftsmanship with the pursuit of excellence.

Charles F.A. Voysey, an English architect and furniture and textile designer, revealed his talent by means of pragmatic articles as well. An aluminum-casting table clock shows a plain but modern vibe with its pale gloss. And you can find a table built by mortise-and-tenon joints without a single nail, which is a common connection nowadays.

Meanwhile, you can take a look at Vargueno furniture, a type of wooden cabinet with simple exterior and ornate interior.

The aesthetic of life inherited from the British Arts and Crafts Movement traverses from one era to another. Varying from fireplace to accessories, assorted objects have become embodiment of aesthetics thanks to the creations of designers.

Sources & photos: i广州, 阅博志, 广东省博物馆, 南方+, 广州天河发布

Author: Liu Liu