1.
SV PAN Birch trees in Kirin Province.
0.06

2.
SV ZOOM TO CU Worker peeling birch trunk.
0.14

3.
SV Sections of bark peeled off.
0.21

4.
SV Worker carving bark and making designs (4 shots).
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5.
SV Worker arranging bark to make picture of temple in mountains.
0.53

6.
CU Worker carving out bark and arranging his work (4 shots)
1.14

7.
CU ZOOM OUT TO SV Finished article.
1.22

8.
SV's Workers arranging bark pictures (3 shots)
1.39

9.
CU ZOOM OUT completed picture.
1.49



Initials RM/0115



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In China, artists and craftsman of Kirin Province are continuing the ancient tradition of making beautiful pictures from the bark of the birch tree
SYNOPSIS: In summer, when the birch trees of the province, in north-eastern China, are in full leaf, the bark is carefully stripped off so as not to damage the tree. After being cut with a sharp knife and peeled off, the bark is laid out in sections to dry, and be coloured.

Then the process of building up the birch bark into a picture begins, with artists carving out the shapes which will develop into the final montage. Depending on the effect he wishes to achieve, the artist will choose from the outer or inner layer of the bark. For finer pieces, he slices a layer even slimmer, and then cuts out patterns and contours of buildings, trees, people, flowers, birds and animals. It takes many separate pieces to create one picture.

The segment are arranged to make a three-dimensional landscape. Colour has been applied before the final arrangement is done. Different thicknesses of bark from the fine inner layers are arranged in tiny strips to form this temple roof. Others cut finely with a frotsaw make a tree in full loaf, and rougher outer bark from an older tree suggest a realistically-solid rock and land-scape.

Sometimes, several artists work together on a longer screen, each one making a different place before assembling their efforts. With an intricate picture like this, the bird alone is made up from thousands of pieces of bark individually cut and attached to look like real plumage. These artists from the Arts and Crafts Institute in Kirin work patiently to keep alive this beautiful and traditional Chinese art form.