Master wood carver revives old crafts

Wood carvings of Suzhou in eastern China is a priceless treasure of Chinese culture. Sublime skills and a sense of beauty are all embodied in the work of Zhong Jinde, a renowned artist who breathes new life into wood carving.

Stanley Lee said, "This is the famous Shantang street. Everything from its lanterns to architecture are all uniquely Suzhou. The street has more than 12 hundred years of history. But I'm about meet a man who is a master of an artform that is much much older."

Zhong Jinde has been a wood carving craftsman for more than 30 years. Though there are many woodcarving workshops in Suzhou, his exemplify the highest achievements in the craft in China. He says the beauty about wood carvings is that it changes and matures over time.

Zhong said, "My clients absolutely adore the wood carvings. As they touch and rub it from day to day, they apply pressure and bring out the oil in the wood and smooth the surface, resulting in a kind of shiny gloss on the surface, making it all the more beautiful. I also believe something more profound is also happening, they actually imprint their identity to the wood carving as they play with it over time, forming a bond between the object and the person."

But what sets Zhong's works apart isn't just his skill but also the materials he uses.

Zhong said, "I use a lot Red Sandalwood, they used to be reserved for the emperor's household. So it's very rare. This raw material is imported from India."

While Red Sandalwood is a luxury on its own, it becomes even more so when turned into exquisite furniture by the hands of Master Zhong. And they are joined together by an ancient technique dating back to more than 6000 years ago.

Stanley Lee said, "This seamless work is actually held together by these subtle mortise and tenon joints. They interlock perfectly together, and don't need any glue or nails at all."

Though they come in various shapes and sizes, mortise and tenons join pieces together at an angle of 90 degrees.

A remarkable technique worthy of the extravagant material. But the most fascinating pieces here are the wooden sculptures. Zhong's works are second to none in presenting Chinese themes with extreme detail.

He also incorporates Western artistic concepts into his sculptures. Normally Chinese wood carvings never depict only one part of the body. But Zhong boldly uses this technique to portray the Buddhist concept of sanctity as exemplified by the lotus.

Despite his spirituality, Zhong is also practical. To avoid ruining the unity of his work with handles, he has found a clever alternative.

We also noticed many carvings of modern objects. Zhong says his clients are showing more interest in works that depart from the traditional idea of wood sculptures.

Articles of everyday use also go down well with buyers, take this tissue holder for example. And how about a hanger for your Chinese writing brush? But Zhong says he took this direction in order to make his works more approachable to more people, not just for commercial reasons.

Zhong also has something just for me.

Stanley Lee said,"This iPhone 4 case is yet another sign that traditional wood carving and modern influence are lighting sparks off each other. Oh someone's calling.