[Explanation] As long as the weather is right, the 68-year-old Xi'an old man Wang Xila will always come to Xi'an Daming Palace Ruins Park, take out a piece of favorite wood, and slowly start carving by the pond.
Regardless of whether there are enthusiastic audiences around him, Wang Xikou will patiently compete with wood and carving knives.
The old man told reporters that he has completed nearly a thousand works in more than 40 years of carving time.
Towards lunch, Wang Xizhao finished part of the carving, put the wood and tools into the grocery cart, and walked slowly to the house.
For Wang Xila, home is another studio.
The reporter saw in Wang Xilai's house that the small room was filled with sculptures of various materials and large and small.
Xi'an Bell and Drum Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and other places of interest are vivid, and a high-profile double-sided screen on the Qingming River is even more eye-catching. To complete this work, Wang Xiqi took three years.
[Concurrent] Xi'an sculpture enthusiast Wang Xiqi
I started doing this in 1976. When I first started doing it, it was a kind of interest. I didn't expect that afterwards, I felt it was a kind of fun, as if I had a sense of professionalism.
I have done a lot in the past, but there are also more gifts. I have never said that this is a way of making money.
[Explanation] Wang Xilai said that he was very interested in handicrafts and fine art since he was young. When he was young, he worked as a fitter in a factory in Xi'an. He has strong hands-on skills and is self-taught.
Since there is no master and no systematic study, Wang Xiqi needs to collect various drawings and photos as materials for practice. The several carving knives in his hand are also processed by himself.
Sculpture is the art of turning a plane into a three-dimensional. Before carving, Wang Xiqi needs to carefully observe the elements and structure of the material picture, and then copy the design sketch on paper by himself, and at the same time conceive the 3D shape of the work.
With the help of a pair of skillful hands and eagerness to ponder, Wang Xikou has not known how many edges and corners of wood and stones have been smoothed in recent years, and at the same time they have been reborn.
Despite his age, Wang Xiqi is still energetic. In addition to daily carving, the old man still has obsessions.
[Concurrent] Xi'an sculpture enthusiast Wang Xiqi
I also have this idea. Even after so many years, it doesn't seem to show anything.
Where can I hold an exhibition as much as possible, let everyone know that there is such a thing, and the next step is to make a heritage.
[Explanation] Wang Xichao told reporters that he hopes that through various channels, more people can see his works and understand the artistic charm of hand-carving.
Party Field Report from Xi'an, Shaanxi
Editor in charge: 【Qi Bin】