Not currently on display at the V&A

Silk Newspaper

2005 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This newspaper printed on silk was given to the V&A in summer 2007 by the Shanghai press group, Jiefang Daily. It commemorates the launch of the space shuttle Shenzhou 6, China's second manned space flight, launched on 12 October 2005, the 2nd anniversary of the launch of its predecessor, Shenzhou 5.

The space mission was carried out by astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, and among the objects that travelled with them on the spacecraft were a silk newspaper and limited copies of a commemorative First Day Cover, which the Jiefang Daily press group produced. This printed silk is a facsimile of the original that travelled into space.

For many centuries in China the educated classes used silk for writing. This newspaper revives the use of silk to communicate ideas, but with modern printing methods. It also symbolically links one of the oldest forms of technology (silk production)
with one of the most modern (space travel).The front page of this memorial edition features a reprint of the article ‘On Earth’, one of the earliest journalistic essays published in 1872 by Shenbao, a pioneering newspaper based in Shanghai.

Another event featured on the silk newspaper looks forward to Shanghai Expo 2010, the first international exposition to be held in China.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Printed Silk
Brief description
Silk newspaper commemorating the launch of the space shuttle Shenzhou no. 6, Shanghai, China, 2005
Physical description
Newsprint on silk
Dimensions
  • Height: 110cm
  • Width: 78cm
Credit line
Given by Jiefang Daily Press Group
Object history
This silk newspaper commemorates the launch of the space shuttle Shenzhou 6, China's second manned spaceflight, launched on 12 October 2005, the 2nd anniversary of the launch of its predecessor, Shenzhou 5. The space mission was carried out by astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng

Historical significance: China's 2nd space shuttle launch in 2005.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This newspaper printed on silk was given to the V&A in summer 2007 by the Shanghai press group, Jiefang Daily. It commemorates the launch of the space shuttle Shenzhou 6, China's second manned space flight, launched on 12 October 2005, the 2nd anniversary of the launch of its predecessor, Shenzhou 5.

The space mission was carried out by astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, and among the objects that travelled with them on the spacecraft were a silk newspaper and limited copies of a commemorative First Day Cover, which the Jiefang Daily press group produced. This printed silk is a facsimile of the original that travelled into space.

For many centuries in China the educated classes used silk for writing. This newspaper revives the use of silk to communicate ideas, but with modern printing methods. It also symbolically links one of the oldest forms of technology (silk production)
with one of the most modern (space travel).The front page of this memorial edition features a reprint of the article ‘On Earth’, one of the earliest journalistic essays published in 1872 by Shenbao, a pioneering newspaper based in Shanghai.

Another event featured on the silk newspaper looks forward to Shanghai Expo 2010, the first international exposition to be held in China.
Collection
Accession number
FE.433-2007

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Record createdOctober 8, 2007
Record URL
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