Clay sculpture, a folk art originating from the ancient land of China, takes soil as its soul and handmade shaping as its form, carrying a thousand years of cultural accumulation and artistic wisdom. Its historical origin can be traced back to the remote Neolithic period, about 4000 to 10000 years ago, when people had been able to skillfully use the soil to create pottery sculptures of different shapes, such as pottery pigs and sheep unearthed in the Hemudu site in Zhejiang Province, and the ancient pottery wells and clay animal heads at the Peiligang site in Xinzheng, Henan Province, all witnessed the germination and glory of early human clay sculpture art.
In the Han Dynasty, with the deepening of society’s understanding of the soul world of the deceased, clay sculpture flourished due to the promotion of funeral customs. A large number of accompanying clay sculptures emerged, which not only enriched tomb culture but also greatly promoted the progress of clay sculpture techniques. Afterwards, with the prosperity of Taoism and the spread of Buddhism to the east, the construction of Taoist temples and Buddhist temples, and the popularity of polytheistic worship, clay sculpture art ushered in a broader stage. Especially during the Tang and Song dynasties, the skill of shaping large Buddha statues reached unprecedented heights. At the same time, small and exquisite clay sculpture toys also entered ordinary people’s homes and became popular commodities in the market.
In the water town of Jiashan in Jiangnan, there is a folk artist named Gao Genrong. He used clay as a pen and craftsmanship as ink to paint vivid clay sculpture paintings in the countryside fields. As a simple farmer, Gao Genrong has loved painting since childhood. Inspired by sculpture art, he resolutely devoted himself to the vast ocean of clay sculpture creation. For him, every inconspicuous lump of mud can be transformed into vivid characters with his nimble hands, telling one vivid story after another.
When it comes to clay sculpture creation, Gao Genrong is always full of passion. He is well aware that although clay sculpture may seem simple, it actually contains profound knowledge. It requires extensive research on cultural and historical materials, a deep understanding of character backgrounds, in order to create artistic images that are both flesh and blood, and have both spirit and form. More importantly, creators need to integrate personal thinking and emotions, making clay sculpture works not only a material presentation, but also a spiritual sustenance.
One of Gao Genrong’s most acclaimed works is his painstakingly completed clay sculpture group sculpture “Stories in the Earth Kiln”. This set of works vividly depicts the scene of the hard work and firing of gold bricks by the kiln workers in Jiashan. Each clay sculpture is filled with love for life and deep affection for the soil. Gao Genrong said that it was his deep love for this land and his profound understanding of the hard work of the kiln workers that inspired his creation, making this group of clay sculptures full of vitality and infectiousness.
Nowadays, Gao Genrong is actively preparing to establish a studio in Xitang Ancient Town, aiming to pass on this unique local culture to more people. We look forward to his unremitting efforts, and Jiaxing’s clay sculpture art will shine even brighter, continuing to write a brilliant chapter in folk art.
