Sculpting the Souls

The International Seminar on Wu Weishan’s Sculptural Works was held on June 21, 2019 at the National Museum of China. Deputy Director General of the National Museum of China Chen Chengjun hosted the opening event. Seventeen Chinese and foreign experts gave keynote speeches, and discussions were held on the humanistic feelings of Wu and the international appeal of sculptures with vivid presentation and bold outlines.

Wu is a well-known contemporary sculptor and a corresponding member of the French Academy of Arts. Wu has long been tapping into, advancing and enriching traditional Chinese culture and is committed to expressing the spirit of Chinese culture through sculpture works. He has created a large number of well-received works which were then exhibited worldwide and collected by many key museums.

“Wu Weishan possesses the fundamental skills of an authentic sculptor: an uncommon ability to observe, combined with a breadth of views and an intellectual curiosity, stimulating him to learn about other cultures,” says Antonio Di Tommaso, President of Sculpture of the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno. “He constantly confronts himself and strengthens his creativity with an acute sensitivity that allows him to penetrate the spirit of man, conferring him with the gift of ‘sculpting souls’”.

Wu is the first person to put forward the theory of “Impressionistic Sculpture” and “Eight Styles of Chinese Sculpture” that summarizes excellent tradition of Chinese sculpture and, to a great extent, plays an important guiding role in the development of sculptural creation in modern China. Since he took office of Director of NAMOC, he has made great efforts to integrate museum collection resources, promote excellent traditional Chinese culture, and tell Chinese stories on the international stage through classical works of art, so as to raise the presence of contemporary Chinese art in the world. Therefore, he has made important contributions to the cultural exchanges between China and other countries and regions.

His masterpieces include Karl Marx, Group Sculptures in Commemoration of Victims in the Nanjing Massacre, Lao Tzu, Confucius, In the Pursuit of Wisdom: Confucius Asking Tao from Lao Tzu, Conversation between Qi Baishi and Leonardo da Vinci and Confucius, Sleeping Kid and others.

“Wu utilizes the “freehand” language within Chinese traditions to form a distinct personal style, and opens up a new chapter in Chinese sculpture,” remarks Fan Di’an, president of the China Central Academy of Fine Arts and Chairman of the China Artists Association, “He fosters ‘dialogues’ between China and abroad to fulfill the exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and as a contemporary Chinese artist, cements his own contribution to building a community with a shared future for humanity.”