Root art

Author: Zhou Xuesen/ Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: From the No.1 Chu Tomb unearthed at Lingma Mountain in Hubei, a root carving called "Bixie" was discovered. It was intended to ward off evil spirits and bring blessings, allowing the deceased to enjoy wealth and honor in the "underworld." The "New Book of Tang - Biography of Li Bi" records: "Li Bi once took a pine branch to lean on his back, naming it 'Yanghe.' Later, he obtained a dragon-shaped branch and presented it to the emperor. People all over the world then imitated it." This story tells of Li Bi, a Tang Dynasty figure, presenting a dragon-shaped branch carving to the emperor. From the Warring States period to the 1970s, root carving held a very small proportion in the art world. Early root carving art primarily served the imperial courts and noble families, catering to the appreciation and enjoyment of only a few. After the mid-1970s, root art began to spread widely in China. Especially since the implementation of China's reform and opening-up policy, the root art industry has developed rapidly. The early 1980s marked a significant turning point in the history of China's root art development. To promote the growth of root art in China, the Central News and Documentary Film Studio began filming the documentary "Root Art" in 1983, with strong support from the National Forestry Department. To showcase the achievements of root art creation, in April 1985, the Ministry of Forestry funded the "China Root Art Joint Exhibition" at the National Art Museum of China. This exhibition featured hundreds of root art works created by artists from more than ten provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Fujian, Hubei, and Hunan. Countless visitors flocked to the exhibition hall to admire the beauty of Chinese root art. Some central leaders visited the exhibition and inscribed messages: "This exhibition is excellent, and this art form should be developed well." In recent years, root carving art has gained increasing popularity due to its unique charm. Like a vibrant flower, it blooms in the vast garden of China's art. To inherit, develop, and popularize this traditional art form, enhance its artistic and economic value, and make it a more complete art with systematic theory, the China Root Art Research Association was established in Beijing in 1985. To exchange experiences and promote the development of root art, the China Root Art Research Association held a "Root Art Works Observation and Creation Experience Exchange Meeting" in Beijing in February 1986. This was the first national gathering of root art artists in China's history, with over 100 representatives from all over the country. The numerous root art works brought by representatives from various regions—some from the vast forests of the northeast, some from the tropical islands, some from the highlands of the northwest, some from the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, and some from the primitive forests of Shennongjia—were displayed. Root artists gathered in the capital, enthusiastically sharing their creative experiences and conducting in-depth discussions on root art research. To assess China's root art level and showcase artistic achievements, in June 1987, the China Flower and Bonsai Association and Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscape Architecture jointly held the "First China Root Art Exhibition" at Beihai Park in Beijing. Over 2,300 root art works from 21 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions were exhibited, setting a record for the scale and number of works displayed. It was a gathering of masterpieces and a grand event. At the time, leaders such as Qian Changzhao, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Gu Mu, State Councilor, visited the exhibition and inscribed titles for it. The diverse root art works provided immense spiritual enjoyment to countless domestic and international audiences. Today, root art is no longer just a pastime for a few but has become a popular and beloved art form among the masses. The Research Association held the "China Root Art Excellent Works Exhibition" at the Beijing Art and Craft Museum, showcasing over a hundred exquisite root art works from all over the country. Subsequently, the "China Root Art Excellent Works Exhibition" was held every two years multiple times. In October 1991, the China Flower and Bonsai Association held the "Second China Root Art Exhibition" in Shashi, Hubei. Over 60 exhibition teams from more than 20 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions participated, with more than 20,000 works on display. Following this, the China Root Art Research Association and the China Flower and Bonsai Association held numerous national root art exhibitions. The China Overseas Exhibitions Company and the China Art and Craft Company also organized numerous exhibitions of exquisite root art to Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, playing a positive role in promoting the development of root art, enriching people's cultural lives, and fostering cultural exchange between China and the world. With China's opening-up and the development of tourism, the ancient art of root carving has been revitalized. Today, root art has gradually developed into a unique art category, attracting the attention of domestic and international connoisseurs and being hailed by foreign friends as "a uniquely Chinese art form." "Root Art" mainly introduces the origins, production methods, appreciation, collection, and investment of root art, along with numerous displays of exquisite root art works. Chinese root art, passed down through the ages, is a marvel of craftsmanship, diverse in style and grand in scale. Root selection takes priority, with the aim of embodying form and meaning, revealing hidden connotations. Follow the root's natural shape, avoiding stiffness, and refine with tools to ensure skillful craftsmanship. Created by heaven and man, it is miraculous and awe-inspiring, refining one's character and serving as a collectible and decorative piece.