According to the Chinese lunar calendar, 2021 is the Year of Xinchou, or Year of the Ox. With the theme of "Gathering up all the power, striving to be strong," the Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University has just completed the designs of the mascot and some merchandise for the 2021 Spring Festival Gala to be broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV). 

The mascot Xiao Ang created by the academy has not only been presented in a New Year animation released by CCTV Animation and the online multi-screen cross-border Chinese Zodiac shows, but also appeared on landmarks in Beijing such as the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, Beihai Park, Zhongshan Park, Beijing Zoo and Xidan Books Building. Xiao Ang will also be displayed in cities throughout the country, such as Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Harbin and Changzhou, etc., to add more colorful features to New Year celebration.  

According to the academy, the design concept of Xiao Ang originated from the "Five-colored Celestial Ox," a mythical creature in the classic ancient fantasy novel "Investiture of the Gods." The mighty Ox has no fear of vicious beasts and can fly high in the sky. As the most typical representative of the Chinese agricultural civilization, the ox well matches with the legendary image of cattle. The two designs, therefore, are based on the prototype of a strong and healthy ox, conveying the massage that Chinese people are hard-working, steady and brave enough to forge ahead against all hardships and difficulties. It also extends the best wishes to people for the coming year.

The CCTV Spring Festival Gala is an indispensable feast for Chinese New Year's Eve. For this reason, the Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University has also designed the 2021 Spring Festival Gala limited edition "Lucky Ox Spring Bowl."

The image of the Lucky Ox is taken from the traditional form of the old ox and represents diligence and determination. The shapes of Ruyi, auspicious clouds, gourds and copper cashes are finely integrated into the graphic design. The colors are taken from the Mashao facial makeups in a shehuo show (a folk show marking the customs of traditional Chinese festivals) in Shaanxi province. The overall design of the bowl symbolizes good luck and happiness, which is a kind of inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese culture and folk art.

Every Spring Bowl has been produced throughout six stages, baked five times at a high temperature, and painted and inlaid with gold by hands. It totally takes 116 hours to get the final ceramic product.

Besides the Spring Bowl, the cooperative design and the production of the Gift Plates Sets for the CCTV Program "I Want to Perform at Spring Festival Gala" have been carried out during the same period of time.

Integrated with the inscriptions on ancient bronze objects and patterns on bronzes, the design of the Lucky Ox creates the flower pattern with Ruyi, auspicious clouds, and the inscriptions of Ri (sun), He (millets), Shan (mountains) and Shui (water), symbolizing happiness, reunion and good fortunes. 

In addition, a particular collection of stamps specially designed for greeting the Year of the Ox issued by China Post on Nov. 5, 2020, is also designed by the Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University, which includes two special stamps "National Prosperity and Families' Health" and "Blessings for the Spring Festival" respectively and one souvenir sheet. 

   

China Post has annually issued New Year special stamps to extend New Year greetings since 2006, becoming an important modern tradition for the Chinese New Year. "Blessings for the Spring Festival" designed by the Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University this time has replaced the "Happy New Year" design, which had been used for 14 years, and officially stepped onto the historical stage, and became a visual memory to initiate a new year.

Inspired by the Chinese characters, the stamps creatively integrate Chinese character "Happiness," oracle-bone script "Door" and the element of "Doufang" (a format for Chinese painting and calligraphy). The stamps employ red and gold as their main colors, connoting the best blessings for the coming of the Chinese New Year.

According to the Academy, their teachers and students will introduce more designs during the Spring Festival through the Academy's official website: http://www.enad.tsinghua.edu.cn/.

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