When people dream awake: The Life of Sculptor Jiang Xiaoyan

Author: Lu Jianchu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features:
1. The young and talented Jiang Xin, known as Xiao Yan, returned from studying abroad and gained fame in Shanghai. Jiang Xin had sculpted portraits of Sun Yat-sen five times, proving himself to be no ordinary individual. He was the son of the reformist scholar Jiang Biao. From a young age, Xin loved literature and studied classics, history, calligraphy, and seal carving after the abolition of the imperial examinations. During his study abroad in Japan and France, he specialized in fine arts. In 1915, he returned to Suzhou, aged twenty-one, and was known as Xiao Yan. At that time, his father and his old friends often gathered in Shanghai, and Xiao Yan attended these gatherings. He was also invited by Liu Haisu to teach oil painting and sculpture at the Shanghai Art College. Xiao Yan was naturally sociable and, in 1919, initiated the Tianma Painting Society, which embraced both Chinese and Western art, fostering emerging artists while showing great respect to the elders, such as Wu Changshuo, Wang Zhen, Li Ruiqing, and Kang Youwei (who was renowned for his calligraphy in his later years). These were all figures of his father’s generation, and Jiang Biao was also famous for the "Six Principles of Painting." Xiao Yan first gained fame as a painter. In 1925, his half-body portrait of Chen Shizeng (Hengke) was exhibited at the seventh Tianma Painting Society exhibition, showcasing his exquisite craftsmanship and profound artistic vision, which stunned the art world. Chen Shizeng, a brilliant but tragically early deceased artist, became even more celebrated in the art world due to this work, and people still speak of it with great admiration to this day.
2. His artistry surpassed his peers, making him a master of portrait sculptures of Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing, Chen Qimei, and Jiang Jieshi, earning him the title of the pioneer of modern urban sculpture in China.
After the Northern Expedition succeeded in 1927, Xiao Yan was commissioned to create sculptures of the founding heroes of the Xinhai Revolution: Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing, Chen Qimei, and Jiang Jieshi. Chen Qimei’s equestrian statue was completed first, and in 1929, it was erected on a high platform by West Lake in Hangzhou. The figure appeared heroic, the horse spirited, and the entire sculpture was magnificent and vivid. Spectators were amazed by what they had never seen before and spread the word, further enhancing Xiao Yan’s reputation. The statues of Sun Yat-sen and Huang Xing were planned to be unveiled in Wuhan on the 20th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, but due to flooding on the Yangtze River that year, they were only transported to Shanghai the following year. The Sun Yat-sen statue was erected at the intersection of three roads in Wuhan—National, People’s Rights, and People’s Livelihood—and still stands today. The bronze statue, over two meters tall, reveals a frail body beneath its robes, with a weary yet determined expression, steady yet slightly sluggish movements, realistically depicting Sun Yat-sen’s later years. It also subtly uses the ancient concept of "Yu Bu" as a metaphor, conveying a profound meaning. The statue of Huang Xing is also preserved in Guishan Park. His demeanor is calm and composed, embodying the (calm decision-making) and strategic brilliance of Zhuge Liang and Xie An, who won battles with ease. Though not tall, his statue reflects a heart capable of withstanding countless challenges, standing firm and self-assured. The sculpture’s artistry captures the extraordinary realm of one who has endured hardships and faced death with indifference through an ordinary appearance, making the viewer both feel connected and hold him in awe. The statue’s relaxed posture also reflects Huang Xing’s later desire for retirement.
Xiao Yan’s sculptures are characterized by profound meaning and pure, concise techniques, combining the strengths of Western realism in shaping forms while embodying benevolence, righteousness, and moral integrity in his expressions. His works reveal his true self and reflect his life experiences, much like the historical accounts by Ma Rong and Ban Gu. The inscription on the base of the Sun Yat-sen statue was written by the Wuhan People’s Government, mentioning a proposal from the March 1927 plenary session of the second Kuomintang National Congress, including Sun Yat-sen’s proposal to erect a memorial statue. At first, Xiao Yan did not publicize this commission, but he was invited by Cai Yuanpei, Ye Gongchuo, and Ma Xuelun to restore the Tang Dynasty murals at Baosheng Temple in Jiaozhi, Jiangsu. Xiao Yan agreed and took his disciple Hua Tianyou to plan the project, leaving Hua to complete the restoration while he returned. This is recorded in the Baosheng Temple stele. Later, Xiao Yan created another Sun Yat-sen statue for the square in front of the Wuhan Red Building (the former provincial government office) and one for the Wuhan Zhongshan Park, which is still preserved today.