With the rapid development of science and technology, such as the emergence engraving machine; and nowadays young people to network, electronic products, keen, in recent years, we continue to see, such as wood carving and other traditional craftsmanship heritage issues facing reports. For these traditional arts and crafts, we go from here?
Hu turned upstairs, down, holding a carved vase. Came near and saw half a foot to high carved bottle full of complicated patterns. Graceful branches coiled on it, two squirrels frolic in the branches chase, look vivid. Brown paint with a little dust on the plot, I can see the vase has been for some years, for Hu, this is just part of his life among the middle and upper levels of a work, being arbitrarily placed in the corner of the room .
Hu Ming Shikang, has been engaged in this line of woodcarving 52 years, about this life experience, Hu marvel, “life really is stumbling, this craft is not afraid to preach anymore.”
Abandon idle work, to join the woodcarving industry
1961, at the age of 21 years old to enter the broadcasting station Hu work, if for now, can not help but fall is a relaxing and quite decent job. At that time, more than twenty dollars a month salary is not low, because most organs unit staff are similar income, however, with many craftsmen than up, but slightly shabby.
After some deliberation, a year later, Hu resigned from the “iron rice bowl”, and go home with his father, inherit the family business, has thus become the fourth generation of the family, woodcarving successor.
Under assiduously, six months of work, Hu formally apprenticeship. Soon, Hu said economic income levels immediately “gone” after the division into, and sometimes earn five dollars a day is “Shoudaoqinlai.” This increasingly Hu gave a lot of confidence, choose this craft seemed at the time really is a wise move.
Thus, Hu will sink in the heart into this craft inside. Gradually, Hu’s skills on the “excel rather than blue.” “My father beat billet is better, the speed is very fast, but I ‘repair light, shovel light’ ability better than him, carved out of something so much more refined.” Hu explained, is the use of carved wiper fine carved and dense thin knife to slice thin slab method to repair chisel marks in dirt, so that the surface of delicate carvings perfect. Requirements of this procedure is relatively high, the knife track to clear dense, or round to, or board straight, and strive to various parts of the minutiae and texture of the show.
But in the 1960s the standard of living is generally not high, wood crafts almost no market, so Hu is a basic connection carved bed, corners like tables, door manual labor, technical content is not high.
1966, Hu left the father alone to the Huangyan of a wood carving factory for development. “That bird house wood carving factory mainly produce screens, basic products are sold to Europe, so the process requirements are quite luxurious.” Old nonsense, that period of work experience for their great help, through exercise, the more sophisticated the technology also.
Mechanical carvings rise decline of traditional craft
After 1980, the long-Hu returned home flooding, and work in agricultural machinery plant six years later, re-took his father’s shop. Was already the era of reform and opening up, every family’s condition has improved, natural furniture and other household items for decoration have higher requirements, so Hu furniture with superb skill in carving this line is very handy.
Leisure time, Hu began to pursue higher requirements carvings, sculpture portraits, vases and other crafts. “Nobody in this regard teaching experience, can only find their own way.” Hu draws long tradition in Dongyang wood carving, and then with their own observation of the kind of follow suit to create.
“Whether it is carving Ye Hao, Ye Hao other craft, we go deeper are endless, the technique can only be better.” Old nonsense, woodcarving is to express their own ideas on the wood. With a cavity love, he gradually carved out of the vase, 4-meter-high statue, even “Tiannvsanhua.”
However, when the human will eventually do. Hu tireless in the pursuit of a higher level of technology at the same time, advances in technology are also changing, computer engraving, mechanical engraving rapid rise, and gradually replaced the hand-carved. “Just enter something mechanical engraving pattern on the computer, the machine will automatically carved out, and each one is very careful, which is unmatched by hand.” Hu endless emotion, like a vase on hand, even if the process a little rough also needs at least one week in order to be completed, if mechanical engraving, perhaps only a few hours to do, efficiency improved several times.
In this trend, gradually, Hu rarely received furniture carving business, and arts and crafts is nobody cares. In order to seek livelihood, Hu began to temples carved statues and other items. Once, he also wanted to pass on this craft, but with a few disciples, were not successful, the majority of even the entry-paintings like this line can not stick with it.
