Centuries of skilled craftsmanship passed down through generations aid in preserving the traditional arts of China. An artist at the Embroidery Institute of Suzhou and a stone-carving merchant at a shopping mall in Beijing have more in common than one might think, as both must use precision and pride when handling such delicate creations- one slip of the hand and their composition is forever altered. Likewise, both genres of art carry unique distinctions in creating these compositions. For example, silk embroidery can only be worked on during the day when there is natural light to prevent the silk from being damaged or mistaken for a different hue. Hand-carving and sculpture work, on the other hand, takes the right amount of pressure to carve, and not chip, away the stone.
Some sculptural works have been naturally composed over time and then interpreted by man. For example, the natural rock formation seen above is of a series of Chinese zodiacs that reside within the Summer Palace in Beijing. This specific piece is meant to represent the year of the dog. On the bottom left, there is an artist (and entrepreneur!) creating a personalized hand-carved stamp for me. A balance of pressure and precision is used to create a relief printing block that, once ink is applied, will act like a stamp. On the bottom right, one can see an example of what the 1-inch x 1-inch customized stamp will produce when used.
One experience that has forever altered me as a human and a growing artist is having been a witness to living history as archeologists actively excavated terracotta warriors inside Emperor Qin's mausoleum. 2,200 years ago, Emperor Qin recruited craftsmen from across the country to create thousands of hand-sculptured and hand-painted terracotta soldiers, all designed to protect the first emperor in the afterlife. Some of these skilled craftsmen came from imprisonment, but all were murdered upon completion to ensure the secrecy of the emperor's tomb.
To bear witness to the unveiling of historical compositions that haven't been seen in centuries was one of the most humbling moments I have ever had the pleasure of partaking in. Below are some images I captured during my visit, with a snapshot of the active excavation underway in the bottom-right corner.