People admire embroidery artworks from Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province at an exhibition in Macao on July 23. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

An exhibition featuring 40 emulated embroidery works from Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province opened at the Macao port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge on July 23.

Nantong emulated embroidery originated from Suzhou embroidery. It was created by Suzhou embroidery expert Shen Shou (1874-1921), and is thus known as Shen embroidery. The technique was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage item in June 2008.

Many of the Shen embroidery works created by the Nantong-based Shen's Embroidery Museum, including President Obama's Family Portrait and Portrait of President Putin, were presented as national gifts to foreign leaders.

Works on display at the Macao exhibition boast various themes and styles, including mountains and waters, flowers, birds, animals, portraits and images of the Buddha, as well as famous paintings.

A representative work is Bai Niao Chao Feng (Birds paying homage to the phoenix), which vividly reproduces the masterpiece of Shen Quan, a painter from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), with extremely thin silk thread. 

Bu Yuan, curator of the embroidery museum, said that he hopes the exhibition will help more people learn about the ancient art form and help spread appreciation for it.