When people dream awake. The biography of the sculpture master Jiang Xiaoyan

Author: Lu Jianchu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features:
1. The young talent Jiang Xin, known as Xiao Yan, returned from studying abroad and gained fame in Shanghai. Jiang Xin had sculpted portraits of Sun Yat-sen in five different styles, proving himself no ordinary individual. He was the son of the reformist scholar Jiang Biao. From a young age, Xin loved literature and was well-versed in classics and history. After the abolition of the imperial examinations, he dedicated himself to painting, calligraphy, seal carving, and engraving. 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 joined them. 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, founded the Tianma Painting Society. The society embraced both Chinese and Western art, nurturing emerging artists while showing great respect to the elderly, 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. His exquisite craftsmanship and profound artistic vision 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 the pioneer master of modern Chinese monumental sculpture for figures such as Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing, Chen Qimei, and Jiang Jieshi. In 1927, after the Northern Expedition's success, Xiao Yan was commissioned to create statues 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 lifelike. Onlookers were amazed and spread the word, further boosting the artist'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 a flood in the Yangtze River that year, they were only transported from Shanghai the following year. The Sun Yat-sen statue was erected at the intersection of three roads in Wuhan—National Road, People's Rights Road, and People's Livelihood Road—and still stands today. The bronze statue, over two meters tall, reveals a frail body beneath its robes, with a weary yet determined expression and a steady yet sluggish gait. It realistically portrays Sun Yat-sen's later years, with remarkable detail. It also uses the ancient concept of "Yu Bu" (the steps of Yu the Great) as a metaphor, adding profound meaning. The statue of Huang Xing is also preserved in Guishan Park. His demeanor is calm and composed, embodying the serene decision-making and decisive leadership of Zhuge Liang and Xie An. Though not tall, his statue reflects a heart capable of withstanding countless challenges, standing firm and self-reliant. This sculpture's artistry conveys a sense of familiarity and reverence, as it captures the extraordinary journey of someone who endured hardships and transcended life and death. The statue's relaxed posture also reflects Huang Xing's later desire for retirement.
Xiao Yan's sculptures are profound and meaningful, with pure and concise techniques. He drew on the strengths of Western realism while infusing moral integrity and virtue into his expressions. His works reveal the true self of the subjects, reflecting their 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 2nd Plenary Session of the 3rd Nationalist Party Congress in 1927, where figures like Soong Ching-ling, He Xiangning, Mao Zedong, and Dong Biwu, along with Tan Yankai, proposed the creation of a memorial statue for Sun Yat-sen. Initially, Xiao Yan did not publicize this commission. Coincidentally, he was invited by Cai Yuanpei, Ye Gongchu, and Ma Xuelun to restore the Tang Dynasty murals at Baosheng Temple in Jiaozhi, Jiangsu. Xiao Yan accepted and took his disciple Huo Tianyou with him. After planning the restoration, he left Huo to complete the work 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 Wuhan Zhongshan Park for Jiang Jieshi.