Origin, a Creative Cultural Brand, Showcasing Impressive Chongqing on Teaware

Showcasing Impressive Chongqing on Teaware

本之缘文创 茶器上的重庆印象

Teaware called “Impressive Chongqing”, a paperweight featuring “Bayu Culture”, a cultural and tourism set named “Artistic Pen” and “Treasure Chest of Mountain City”… Diverse creative cultural products with “Chongqing” style are on display in Origin Zen Art Store. “All of these are my original designs. What I mostly try to do is to explore the local culture and design special creative cultural gifts to spread the charm of Chongqing,” said Tan Ben, founder of the creative cultural brand Origin in Chongqing during an exclusive interview with The World and Chongqing.

Traditional Culture, the Soul of Creative Cultural Products

 “Design is often regarded as the soul of a product, but a creative cultural product requires both a unique design and a comprehensive understanding of cultural connotations.” Tan Ben added modern design and creative ideas to the traditional urban culture by probing into Chongqing’s cultural icons and then crafted creative cultural products with a distinct style.

Origin’s products feature typical elements and culture of Chongqing, presenting the city in everyday small objects. Their designs are practical and eye-catching. For example, “Treasure Chest of Mountain City”, inspired by Luban box, depicts a city with bridges of various shapes and 3D magic buildings. The cultural and tourism set, named “Artistic Pen,” features ebony carvings of Diaojiaolou buildings (houses on stilts), created by using traditional Chinese wood carving techniques. The set can store data as a flash drive and write as a pen. It was shortlisted for the “2023 China Special Tourism Product Competition.”

Tan Ben introduced a set of teaware, called “Impressive Chongqing,” to The World and Chongqing. On the surface, ancient streets of the mountain city were painted, adorned with many Diaojiaolou buildings, luxuriant banyan trees, rushing river, spicy hot pot and the locals climbing hills. All these elements add a special Chongqing style to the teaware.

The set of teaware was highly appraised and admired at home and abroad immediately after its debut. The reason must be the mix of vintage and modern styles and its delicate craftsmanship. The teaware was made from raw ore, featuring blue and white semi-porcelain with crackle glazes. It was also included in the fourth Chongqing Gifts for Foreign Affairs event.

Making Creative Cultural Products Carriers of Bayu Culture

 “Creative cultural products are the best carriers for the young generation to learn about a city and its culture and past. These innovative products are also ways for the youth to communicate their values and attitudes towards life.” Tan Ben believed that designers should recreate cultural resources after exploring the fine traditional culture, and add cultural elements to products in an interesting and unique way. In this case, these products would be noticed and purchased by the young people. This idea serves as the core and the target of Origin.

Tan Ben stated that the most representative one of all creative cultural products in Origin was a set of chopstick holders in the shapes of four typical local elements, namely pepper, banyan tree leave, mountain and stairs, to pair with spoons and chopsticks. “I hope everyone can learn about Chongqing and its outgoing and persevering people when having meals, as the design features a touch of regional cultural elements.”

 “The long-lasting national culture can be appreciated by the world.” Whilst crafting creative cultural products, Tan Ben was seeking ways for market expansion. In 2023, Origin’s products took an active part in international exhibitions, such as the 11th Chongqing International Cultural Industry Expo and the 8th Western China Tourism Industry Expo, drawing attention and sparking heated discussions. “Origin will work harder to go global, unveiling to the world the solid foundation and innovative development of Bayu culture through creative cultural products. The brand will show a charming Chongqing by crafting better creative cultural products with ‘Chongqing’ style.”

“重庆印象”茶器

“重庆印象”茶器、“巴渝风情”镇纸、“文艺的笔”文旅套装、“山城宝盒”……在重庆本之缘禅艺生活馆内，各类“渝”味十足的文创产品琳琅满目。“这都是我的原创设计，我最想做的事情就是挖掘地方文化，打造具有地域特色的文创好礼，以礼为媒，传递重庆魅力。”本之缘重庆文创品牌创始人谭本接受记者专访时表示。

传统文化赋予文创产品灵魂

参展第十一届重庆国际文化产业博览会

“都说设计是产品的灵魂，但做文创产品不仅要有别出心裁的设计，更要对文化内涵有深刻的理解。”谭本通过不断探索学习，深入挖掘重庆本地特色文化符号，结合现代设计和创意，让城市文化中“老”与“新”的元素碰撞交织，打造出风格鲜明的文创产品。

本之缘的作品汇聚了典型的重庆元素、重庆风貌，在一个个日常小物件上展现重庆之美，并通过设计巧妙实现实用性和美观性兼具的效果。比如，“山城宝盒”采用鲁班盒机关设计将重庆形态各异的桥梁、立体魔幻建筑等组合成一幅美丽的城市画卷。“文艺的笔”文旅套装则采用中国传统木雕形式将吊脚楼雕刻于黑檀木上，并实现集U盘存储与书写于一体，该文创产品还荣获“2023中国特色旅游商品大赛”入围奖。

谭本拿起一套“重庆印象”茶器向记者介绍，茶器表面绘画描绘了山城的老街风情,将层层叠叠的吊脚楼、枝繁叶茂的黄桷树、奔腾的江水、热辣的火锅，以及爬坡上坎的重庆人等元素融入其中，为茶器增添了一份浓浓的重庆味。

这套“重庆印象”茶器采用原矿材质结合半陶半瓷开片青花的工艺，其复古与现代交融的风格，一经面世便收获了国内外友人的好评和喜爱。“重庆印象”茶器也入选了第四届“重庆好礼”外事礼品。

让文创产品成为巴渝文化传播载体

“文创产品是当下年轻人了解一个城市及其历史文化的最好载体，充满创意活力的文创产品，也是年轻人传递价值观和生活态度的一种方式。”在谭本看来，设计者要在挖掘优秀传统文化的基础上对文化资源进行再创造，将文化元素以一种有趣且别致的方式融入产品中，从而走进年轻人的生活。这既是本之缘品牌的基因内核，亦是不断前进的方向。

谭本介绍，在本之缘的众多创意产品中，最具有代表性的是一款筷架套装——“筷”乐架道，该产品选用4个重庆代表性元素辣椒、黄桷树叶、山城的山、梯坎制成筷架，搭配勺子和筷子组成。“希望通过这种方式，将地域文化元素融入日常膳食，大家在使用时不仅能了解重庆城市风貌，更能深入感知重庆人火热的性格和自强不息的韧劲。”

“民族的就是世界的。”注重打造文化创意产品的同时，谭本在琢磨如何拓展品牌的推广。2023年，本之缘文创产品积极参与第十一届重庆国际文化产业博览会、第八届中国西部旅游产业博览会等国际展会，引发关注和热议。“以文创产品为载体展现巴渝文化的厚重底蕴和创新发展，本之缘将努力突破地域界限，持续打磨‘渝’味文创，传递重庆魅力。”