[Explanation] In the Sipin Art Museum of Licheng County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, there are opera reliefs with lifelike images, vivid expressions and colorful colors on display.
[Explanation] The above works are all written by Zhang Xueyi, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage in Shanxi Province.
As the inheritor of Lihou's colorful sculpture production skills, Zhang Xueyi has used the skills of a craftsman for many years to keep the "old" and push the "new". He carved and painted opera facial makeup on the plaster, giving Lihou's colorful sculpture new life.
[Concurrent] Zhang Xueyi, the inheritor of Li Hou's colorful carving skills
I myself studied arts and crafts design at school. After returning to my hometown, my hometown itself is the birthplace of the national intangible cultural heritage "Shangdang Luozi". At the beginning, I said that traditional operas are performed on the stage. Above, how I use what I have learned to make a work of art with my own ideas.
[Explanation] In June 2008, the "Shangdang Luozi" declared by Licheng County was included in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage list, which made Zhang Xueyi's enthusiasm for creation even more passionate.
[Explanation] In the next few years, Zhang Xueyi invested hundreds of thousands of yuan, and began to tirelessly combine theory and experimentation to study repeatedly. The vitality of Shangdang opera gradually became brighter in the form of Lihou colorful carvings in Zhang Xueyi's hands. bloom.
[Concurrent] Zhang Xueyi, the inheritor of Li Hou's colorful carving skills
Later, after several years of research and development, including exploring and collecting data, I used our local materials to create opera characters.
Most of us now are the characters of various dramas shown in the national intangible cultural heritage of "Shangdang Luozi", and we almost all make them.
Now we are more representative, such as this work, which is the "dragon and phoenix presenting prosperity" in our "Shangdang Luozi".
[Explanation] Zhang Xueyi's Licheng color sculpture works rely on the traditional clay color sculpture production method, but he does not forget to innovate while keeping the "old", and introduces the color clay sculpture material technology.
Based on the shortcomings of single function and small market audience in the traditional clay color sculpture production method, Zhang Xueyi carefully studied the production process, and with years of experience, he perfectly integrated traditional natural fragrances and handicraft skills, forming a unique artistic style of clay color sculpture .
[Concurrent] Zhang Xueyi, the inheritor of Li Hou's colorful carving skills
The works we make, firstly, they have a long storage time. As a form of clay sculpture, after expressing the opera characters, they are vivid, and the shape of the characters and their own real people is uneven.
Second, their colors are brighter, and the characters are more lifelike.
[Explanation] In 2017, Li Hou's colorful carving skills were included in the representative items of provincial intangible cultural heritage.
Zhang Xueyi is the inheritor of this craft.
[Explanation] After that, Zhang Xueyi innovated again, using the methods of "intangible cultural heritage + cultural creation" and "intangible cultural heritage + tourism", according to regional characteristics and product needs, adding technological innovation elements, and developed folk characters, twelve zodiac signs, and cartoons. Character-based series.
[Explanation] Today, Zhang Xueyi, who regards studying the production skills of Lihou colored carvings and promoting Licheng opera reliefs as his lifelong pursuit, is still on the road of development and inheritance.
Shang Shen Lina Jia Jinhui reports from Changzhi, Shanxi
Responsible editor: [Li Ji]