Shanxi woodcarving artists have studied their skills for 20 years: I hope that a variety of crafts will be integrated to promote inheritance

　　Chinanews.com, Taiyuan, August 30th. Title: Shanxi woodcarving artists have studied their skills for 20 years: I hope that a variety of crafts will be integrated to promote inheritance

　　Author Wu Qiong

　　On the 30th, in Liujiapu Village, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 54-year-old Wang Quansheng was busy in his studio. With a carving knife in his hand, he painted woodcarving works in detail, one by one, and the statue of Guanyin and other woodcarving works were placed in the room.

　　Twenty years ago, by chance, Wang Quansheng became attached to woodcarving.

"Originally I was going to buy a piece of wood carving, but when I saw those handicrafts, I was attracted by their shapes and patterns, and wanted to learn wood carving." Wang Quansheng told reporters that because the two uncles at home had worked as carpenters before, they came back. Later, he first studied woodworking with his uncles, and then went to Dongyang, Zhejiang to study with professional masters.

　　Wang Quansheng, who is immersed in the world of woodcarving, spent 20 years of precipitation and polishing, from a folk craftsman to the inheritor of traditional woodcarving skills.

An ordinary piece of wood, through the process of selecting materials, designing, embossing, and carving, becomes an exquisite work of art in Wang Quansheng's hands.

　　"I use the wood carving knife cleaning process.'Cleaning knife' means that all carvings are done with a knife, without sandpaper sanding or polishing." Wang Quansheng introduced that the wood used in the selection of materials should be hard enough. At the same time, this skill is very good. Tests the craftsman's knife skills, and the finished works are more vivid and three-dimensional.

　　If you want to make exquisite wood carvings with clean swords, the most difficult thing is carving. "A sword can't be wrong" is Wang Quansheng's high pursuit of his own skills.

"During carving, once the knife is deepened, even a little bit, the work is destroyed, and the entire process has to be redone."

Ordinary wooden blocks, through the process of selecting materials, designing, embossing, and carving, become exquisite works of art in Wang Quansheng's hands.

Photo courtesy of Wang Quansheng

　　At the end of 2020, Wang Quansheng entered the intangible cultural heritage street of Liujiapu Village, where there are many intangible cultural heritage projects such as paper-cutting, Xihuamen lion dance, traditional Taiyuan lacquerware, and cloth shoes with mullet bottoms.

"I often communicate with other intangible cultural heritage people to discuss the inheritance and innovation of each other's skills. It is very convenient for everyone to gather together and exchange and study." Carving, jade carving, stone carving and other crafts are combined to make more creative works.

　　Integration and innovation are the lifeblood.

"The integration of craftsmanship is very important. While inheriting the traditional skills, I also hope to make things with my own cultural symbols." Wang Quansheng hopes that with the help of the integration of craftsmanship, we can better spread the woodcarving culture and encourage more people to protect and inherit traditional culture. .

　　During his 20-year career, Wang Quansheng has produced more than 300 pieces of wood carvings, and sometimes it takes several months to produce a complex piece. For example, it took more than three months for the Eighteen Arhats.

　　Speaking of inheritance, Wang Quansheng said that some students who are interested now learn woodcarving skills from him. "We will continue to pass on woodcarving skills, actively innovate, and make our culture better and better, so that more people will know it." (End) )