[Explanation] Take a ball of prepared mud, knead and carve, and for more than an hour, the mud "grown" out facial features and limbs, and became the appearance of a child.
On July 12, in a studio in Lingshi County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, Yan Huaqiang, a folk craftsman, was engrossed in sculpting human figures with mud.
[Explanation] In Yan Huaqiang's studio, there are dozens of clay sculpture works, including the display of characters in rural life scenes, as well as the statues of relatives and friends. Each character has different expressions and vivid expressions.
Yan Huaqiang said that each statue has its own story.
[Concurrent] Yan Huaqiang, a folk craftsman
I learned clay sculpture with my father when I was a child. I have been doing clay sculpture crafts since my grandfather. I have been in contact with clay sculpture works since I was a child. When I was a child, my father taught us to make some small animals. Involving these clay figures.
[Explanation] The depiction of the demeanor of clay figures requires relatively high requirements for the viscosity and hardness of the mud.
The clay used in Yanhuaqiang clay sculpture is made up of several kinds of soils.
[Concurrent] Yan Huaqiang, a folk craftsman
The main thing is to find clay with high viscosity and mix it into ordinary soil. The soil will become sticky and easy to shape. This clay will not crack. As long as it is dry, it can be stored all the time.
[Explanation] Yan Huaqiang's clay sculpture works are mainly character statues, either alone or in groups of three or five, with simple shapes and expressive expressions.
[Concurrent] Yan Huaqiang, a folk craftsman
The most difficult step is to grasp the demeanor and shape of the characters, and shaping is the most critical.
[Explanation] There are many things that clay can express. On the cabinet in Yan Huaqiang's studio, a clay sculpture of a family of six is very conspicuous.
[Concurrent] Yan Huaqiang, a folk craftsman
The work "Close with Relatives" is mainly a scene of my father riding a bicycle, with four of my brothers, and my mother, after the family celebrates the New Year, a scene of stringing relatives.
Through this work, I want to remind everyone of the life scene at that time, and then teach children to be filial and grateful to their parents.
[Explanation] In the 40 years of making clay sculptures, Yan Huaqiang wanted to give up this boring hobby several times, but his father was reluctant to lose this skill, and only persevered with his father's constant encouragement.
On the basis of inheritance, Yan Huaqiang is also seeking some innovations.
[Concurrent] Yan Huaqiang, a folk craftsman
I made some relief paintings, and then used clay sculptures to stick them on the wall, and then painted them with paint to make them more three-dimensional.
[Explanation] The creation of clay sculptures requires certain painting skills, as well as patience, care, and perseverance, so its inheritance is not optimistic now.
[Concurrent] Yan Huaqiang, a folk craftsman
I now have five or six apprentices, and my next plan is to try my best to bring these skills to the campus, let more children understand the handicraft art, and try to pass on the clay sculpture as much as possible.
Report from Jinzhong, Shanxi
Responsible editor: [Li Ji]