DCAM Public Education｜“Carving Lotuses in Coffee: A Dunhuang Contemporary Art Experience” When Ancient Wooden Lotus Pedestals Meet Latte Art
This weekend, join us at the Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum (DCAM) to explore Ni Youyu’s installation “Futu”. Composed of stacked lotus pedestals from different eras and regions, this work is neither a traditional pagoda nor purely contemporary art—it is the artist’s unique interpretation of cultural exchange. Each lotus pedestal retains the distinct carving marks of craftsmen from diverse times and places.
“Futu” by Ni Youyu, Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum, 2024
On the morning of May 24, delve into the story behind this artwork. Discover the evolution of pagodas, the symbolic significance of lotuses, and the heritage of carving techniques, while tracing the stylistic shifts of lotus motifs across history. Most uniquely, we invite professional baristas from UniBrown Coffee to teach you how to carve an eight-petal lotus pattern into coffee. Using milk foam as your canvas and etching tools for precision, experience the seamless fusion of traditional art and modern life.
Event Highlights
“Futu” Art Appreciation
Guided tour exploring the artistic philosophy and woodcarving craftsmanship behind the lotus pedestals.
Lotus Culture Lecture
Uncover the evolution of lotus motifs in Dunhuang art and their cross-cultural legacy in Eastern and Western traditions.
Latte Art Workshop
Learn to carve Dunhuang-inspired lotus patterns and savor specialty coffee.
Cultural Context
The lotus motif is one of the most prevalent decorative elements in Dunhuang art.
In the murals of the Mogao Caves, lotus patterns adorn the backgrounds of Bodhisattvas and Feitian (celestial beings), embodying both solemnity and the Buddhist ideal of purifying worldly attachments.
Futu, derived from the Tocharian language, refers to a pagoda or Buddhist stupa.
Since 2013, artist Ni Youyu has collected wooden lotus pedestals from workshops worldwide, preserving the artisans’ hand-carved traces to ensure each lotus is unique. The “Futu” series layers these pedestals, intentionally omitting central religious figures to amplify their abstract, ritualistic aesthetic.
When he was creating, he deliberately abandoned the statue as the central subject, leaving only the carrier of the form, and purified and magnified it, so that the work has a strong sense of ritual in aesthetics, and at the same time has a certain metaphysical abstract meaning.
Workshop Registration
Individuals: Scan the QR code on the poster to register.
Groups: Book via the official WeChat account or phone for customized group activities.
Event Details
Date & Time: Saturday, May 24, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Salon Area, Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum
Participants: Adults (18+)