Vincent Cazeneuve climbs a lacquer tree in the deep mountains of Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 15, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
Fascinated by lacquer art, French artist Vincent Cazeneuve came to China 15 years ago with the aim of finding the suitable species of lacquer tree to make lacquer artworks. He had visited many places in China, and finally settled down in Chengkou.
Affected by the temperature and water content of the lacquer trees, the time for lacquer collection is from March to October every year.
Vincent must be fully prepared as contacting with raw lacquer liquids may cause allergies.
It will take some time for the sap of lacquer trees to completely drain away. The dense woods blocked the moonlight, and headlamps were the only source of light in the woods. Vincent waited, and harvested lacquer liquid bit by bit.
To prepare colored lacquer, mineral materials need to be added, such as cinnabar for red paint, realgar for yellow paint, and titanium dioxide for white paint. After stirring, grinding, and filtering, they can be bagged for later use.
Vincent now has four apprentices at his studio. He led them to learn lacquer arts from basic skills, just like his tutor Yang Tianlun, who shared experience with him without reservation.
The high-quality "Damu lacquer" allows Vincent's works to have better expression, and Vincent's creation also gives Chengkou lacquer new vitality.
Talking about future, Vincent plans to continue in-depth research on lacquer art and share more of China's lacquer art with the world through creation.
Vincent Cazeneuve collects raw lacquer in the deep mountains of Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 15, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
Vincent Cazeneuve makes a wood spoon in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Oct. 25, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
Vincent Cazeneuve (C) tutors his apprentices at his studio in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, May 29, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
Vincent Cazeneuve collects raw lacquer in the deep mountains of Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 15, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
Vincent Cazeneuve prepares equipment before tapping lacquer trees in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 15, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
This photo taken on Oct. 26, 2023 shows Vincent Cazeneuve in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
Vincent Cazeneuve (R, front) introduces his artwork during an exhibition in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, April 27, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua)
Vincent Cazeneuve tutors villager Zou Changju to distinguish different status of black lacquer liquid in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 20, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2023 shows the equipment Vincent Cazeneuve used for tapping lacquer trees for the sap in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
Vincent Cazeneuve and his apprentices have lunch at his studio in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Oct. 25, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 16, 2023 shows Vincent Cazeneuve and his family enjoying leisure time in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
Vincent Cazeneuve taps a lacquer tree in the deep mountains of Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 15, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
Vincent Cazeneuve interacts with his child in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 15, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
Vincent Cazeneuve (L) tutors his apprentice Zheng Yongping (C) in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 21, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
Vincent Cazeneuve films the filtering process of black lacquer liquid at his studio in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 21, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
Vincent Cazeneuve shows his hands after tapping lacquer trees in the deep mountains of Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 15, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
Vincent Cazeneuve shows newly collected lacquer to his tutor Yang Tianlun at his studio in Songbai Village of Chengkou County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Oct. 26, 2023. The Qinling-Daba mountain areas of southwest China are rich in lacquer trees. Located deep in the Daba Mountains, Chengkou County in southwest China's Chongqing produces Damu lacquer with strong adhesion and high gloss. (Xinhua/Chu Jiayin)
