Between blue-gray roof tiles and gray brick walls lies the lifelong wisdom of master craftsmen; the scent of ink and stone carries the exuberant spirit of youth. Lin Xiaoman takes up her brush and moves between the grain of paper and the texture of ancient paintings, vowing to carry the art of calligraphy and painting restoration into a new era. Chen Mo shoulders his toolkit and searches among timber joints and carved stone patterns, hoping the spirit of ancient architecture can still breathe freely amid a forest of steel and concrete.
This is their story of youth alone: in the morning glow at the Gate of Divine Might in the Forbidden City, they study the analysis of ancient painting pigments with their mentor; at dusk in Zhuanta Hutong, they argue heatedly over how to restore a single door ornament; with rubbing prints, data, paper-cutting, and more, they piece together the fragments of old Beijing's memory. Here are their devoted efforts to pass on intangible cultural heritage, the unspoken understanding that quietly grows between young people, and the energy and passion of finding their own little joys in the vast galaxy of ancient crafts. See how two high school students bring tradition and youth together in the everyday work of restoring old crafts, letting their vibrant youth shine with a brightness all its own.
