The inheritor of the ceramic sculpture skills of the World Heritage Site: “Cultural and Creative” empowers the intangible cultural heritage at the fingertips
Wu Xiaoqing instructs children to make dripping beasts in research activities
Quanzhou Net, March 3 (Reporter Xu Yaling, Correspondent Li Lingling Text/Photo) Recently, Jinjiang Cizao kiln ceramic firing techniques were selected into the seventh batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage representative projects list. As an important process in the firing technique of magnetic stove kiln, ceramic sculpture technique has attracted attention again. A few days ago, the reporter walked into the studio of Wu Xiaoqing, a master of ceramic art in Fujian Province and the non-genetic inheritor of the “Cizao Ceramic Sculpture Technique” of Cizao Kiln, to learn about his story of empowering traditional handicrafts.
Wu Xiaoqing’s studio is located in his own ancient house in Cizao Community, Cizao Town. The dripping beasts on the eaves of the ancient house are eye-catching. Wu Xiaoqing introduced that his parents have worked in the family’s Longyao workshop, Cizao Shenqiu “Qibian Kiln” for several generations. Since the age of 10, he has helped to dry the greens in the “Qibian Kiln”. Sometimes he likes to play with mud, so he uses mud Pinch some small animals and put them in the kiln for firing, “I made all my childhood toys by myself.”
Wu Xiaoqing’s ceramic sculptures
Since childhood, Wu Xiaoqing has a soft spot for ceramic sculpture and painting, and later was admitted to Xiamen Academy of Arts and Crafts. In 2014, a temple in Quanzhou needed to make three Buddha statues of the patriarch, and asked Wu Xiaoqing for help. Wu Xiaoqing pondered and expressed from the technical point of view, and portrayed the kindness and charm of the Buddha statue. The masters of the temple were very satisfied with his works, and other temples later invited Wu Xiaoqing to make Buddha sculptures.
In Wu Xiaoqing’s ceramic sculpture works, the unique “divine animals” in southern Fujian are the main elements of his creation. He incorporates dripping beasts and roof beasts into the design of tea sets, and also combines toads with traditional incense burners. These designs are inspired by the southern Fujian culture passed down from generation to generation. Under Wu Xiaoqing’s whimsical conception and meticulous elaboration, these “divine beasts” in southern Fujian not only come alive, but also successfully enter the daily life of the people relying on the carrier, making the traditional southern Fujian culture more vivid and closer.
“The value created by culture should not only be placed in museums, but should also be introduced into thousands of households and people’s lives through traditional craftsmen.” In Wu Xiaoqing’s view, “cultural creativity” empowers ceramics Production can not only extend the practicability of traditional handicrafts, but also add more southern Fujian characteristics to the products, and cultivate the next generation’s sense of identity and pride in southern Fujian culture in a subtle way.
Today, Wu Xiaoqing is employed by Quanzhou Vocational and Technical University as an arts and crafts teacher, teaching courses related to ceramic sculpture at the school, part-time art tutor in the traditional villages of Wulin in Jinjiang and traditional blocks in Wudian City, teaching ceramic sculpture skills and intangible cultural heritage experience, and has repeatedly In the parent-child study activities organized by Cizao Town, guide children to make dripping animal sculptures. “Now that the Cizao kiln site has become a world cultural heritage site, more and more people pay attention to the firing skills of Cizao kilns. I hope to do my best to continue and develop traditional skills.” Wu Xiaoqing said.