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Minhui Zhang(张民辉）, born in Xinhui, Guangdong Province in 1953, is an outstanding representative of the field of Chinese ivory carving art and the fifth master of Chinese arts and crafts.
1972: Beginning Dental Carving
After graduating from high school in 1972, Zhang Minhui began his career as an ivory carver at the Daxin Ivory Craft Factory in Guangzhou. Under the careful guidance of Mr. Li Dingrong, Zhang Minhui worked hard to study the art of ivory carving, from the basic carving techniques to the complex design. In order to further improve his artistic quality and creative ability, Zhang Minhui successively studied at the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts and the South China Amateur University of Literature and Art. These two learning experiences exposed him to more systematic art theory knowledge and diverse art styles, which laid a solid foundation for his future creations.
1991: Founded A Ivory Carving Craft Factory
In 1991, with years of accumulated experience and exquisite skills, Zhang Minhui founded Huacheng Boya Craft Factory. Here, he is able to give more freedom to his creativity and integrate his understanding of the art of ivory carving into each piece.
2010: Representative Inheritor of Ivory Carving
In January 2010, Zhang Minhui was officially named the representative inheritor of ivory carving, an intangible cultural heritage project in Guangzhou. This honor is not only a high recognition of his personal outstanding achievements in the field of ivory carving, but also gives him a great responsibility to inherit and carry forward the art of ivory carving.
Creativity: A Wide Range of Creative Subject Matter
Zhang Minhui's ivory carvings cover a wide range of subjects, including figures, animals, landscapes, flowers and birds, towers, palace lanterns, dragon boats, ivory balls and other forms.
Figure Carving
In terms of figure carving, he can accurately capture the demeanor and temperament of the characters, and vividly show the characters through delicate carving techniques.
Animal Carving
The animal carvings are vivid and realistic, and the texture of the hair and the undulations of the muscles are depicted in great detail, showing the smart beauty of the animals.
Ivory Balls Caving
In the creation of ivory balls, he has shown superb skills, and the nested ivory balls are nested in layers, each layer is as thin as cicada wings and can rotate freely, which is breathtaking.
Conclusion
In the long-term creative process, Zhang Minhui actively explores and innovates, especially in the use of ivory carving techniques and the combination of a variety of material carriers. He is good at integrating modern aesthetic concepts, Western sculpture techniques and traditional Chinese national craft concepts. This innovative way of creating makes his works novel and unique, with far-reaching artistic conception and unique style. In various competitions held by the state, provinces and cities, Zhang Minhui's works shined and won more than 30 gold awards. Many of his fine works have been collected by national and provincial departments or museums, and have become classics of ivory carving art. In addition to his brilliant achievements in creation, Zhang Minhui also knows the importance of inheriting ivory carving skills. He is actively involved in the work of inheritance, passing on his skills to the younger generation without reservation. At the same time, he was also employed by art academies to teach college students, using his rich practical experience and profound artistic attainments to contribute to the training of successors in ivory carving skills. With the development of the times, in the face of the scarcity of ivory raw materials, Zhang Minhui actively explores alternative materials and processes. He developed a new technology for aggregate degreasing and purification, which successfully solved the shortcomings of cow bones that are susceptible to moisture, so as to inherit the ivory carving skills with bone carving, so that this national treasure with a long history can continue and develop in the new era.
Honorary Title
- National Model Worker of Light Industry
- Literature and History Research Librarian of Guangzhou Municipality
- Representative Inheritor of Guangzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Program of Ivory Carving
- Executive Director of China Arts and Crafts Association
- Vice President of Guangdong Arts and Crafts Association
- Vice President of Guangdong Arts and Crafts Masters Association
- Director of Guangdong Folk Literary Artists Association
- Member of Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Expert Committee
- Vice Chairman of Guangzhou Arts and Crafts Association
- Vice Chairman of Guangzhou Folk Literary Artists Association
- General Manager and Art Director of Guangzhou Liwan District Huacheng Boya Craft Factory
