Tianjin hosts Beijing sculptor

Sculptor Tian Shixin is simple and straightforward, and his attitude toward life is reflected in his sculptures.

The 73-year-old works in his studio in a village in a Beijing suburb, far from the clamor of the city, devoting himself to his lifelong pursuit—sculpture.

His ongoing show at Tianjin Grand Theater, Hello, Souls, displays 38 sculptures Tian created from the 1980s to today, including his early works focusing on ordinary people in Guizhou province and significant figures in Chinese history.

Tian's sculptures are on the first floor of Tianjin Grand Theater, the venue of a three-month ongoing theater festival. Tian says if live theater depicts a snapshot of society, his sculptures reflect the souls of society.

Having lived in Guizhou for 14 years, Tian started sculpting by making models of ordinary people going about their daily lives—a woman tending pigs, ducks and chickens, a man smoking a pipe and farmers enjoying a drink.

"I feel like I can smell the smoke and the rice wine from Tian's sculptures. They are very real and close to people living in the mountainous areas of Guizhou," says Qian Shaowu, a member of the sculpture committee of Chinese Artists Association.

When Tian created his first sculptures of the Miao people featuring typical Chinese faces in the 1970s, he was criticized for demonizing Chinese people.

"We were short of confidence about flat faces at the time. But I insisted on modeling the real Chinese," says Tian.

The artist has also made models of celebrities in various fields from ancient and modern China, such as poet Wang Bo, writer Lu Xun and painter Qi Baishi.

A sculpture depicting drama director Lin Zhaohua is Tian's latest work. He says he finished a sculpture of Lin's head over the course of several meetings with the director.

"As a sculptor, I have the ability to capture a person's features after a short conversation," says Tian.

The sculptor has never changed his style. The only change is his experimentation with different materials, he says.

Tian has innovatively used different clays, various stones, wood and bronze for his sculptures.

"Innovation is what distinguishes an artist from a craftsman," says Tian.

Artist Shao Dazhen says Tian has never changed his style to cater to the market.

Shao says Tian creates his works based on his own experiences and feelings, combining his thoughts with reality, elevating Tian's sculptures beyond the mundane.

IF YOU GO

8:30 am-9 pm, until June 7.

Tianjin Grand Theater, Leyuan Lu (Road), Hexi district, Tianjin.

022-8388-2008.