The 17th China’s Four Famous Stone Sculpture Art Exhibitions opens in Beijing
On October 18, the “National Stone Charm and Masterly Craftsmanship: The 17th China Four Famous Stones Sculpture Art Exhibition” opened at the China Arts and Crafts Museum (also known as the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum) in Beijing. This exhibition features modern sculptural artworks and unique raw stones made from Shoushan stone, Qingtian stone, Changhua stone, and Balin stone, showcasing the heritage and evolution of traditional Chinese stone carving art.
The Four Famous Stones of China typically refer to Shoushan stone from Fujian, Qingtian stone and Changhua stone from Zhejiang, and Balin stone from Inner Mongolia. Sculptures crafted from these stones are celebrated for their innovative techniques, profound cultural significance, and rare natural materials, earning them the title of “Treasure of Stone China.”
The “China Four Famous Stones Sculpture Art Exhibition” was first held in Fuzhou in 2005 and has since become one of the most prestigious, largest, and influential exhibitions in the Chinese stone carving community. This year’s exhibition showcases over 50 representative works selected from each of the four renowned stone-producing regions. Additionally, it features live skill demonstrations by master artisans and a designated area for the sale of stone carving and cultural creative products.
Among the attendees at the opening ceremony were renowned Chinese arts and crafts masters such as Chen Yijing, Zheng Zeping, Liu Chuanbin, Qian Gaoyao, Bao Yingzhi, and Xu Yongli, along with representatives from the China Arts and Crafts Society and various other institutions. All guests unanimously agreed that the research, appreciation, display, and promotion of the Four Famous Stones not only advance the development of Chinese stone carving art but also play a critical role in inheriting and promoting the excellent traditional culture of China.
Lin Cheng, Vice Chairman of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, emphasized in his speech that the China Four Famous Stones Sculpture Art Exhibition not only promotes the culture of these prestigious stones but also strengthens technical exchanges between different production areas, fosters talent development in stone carving, and encourages the protection and innovative development of traditional crafts.
Notably, this exhibition aims to transcend the limitations of traditional exhibition spaces and time by utilizing advanced virtual reality technology, creating an immersive experience for visitors through panoramic scanning and production of the showcased content. After the exhibition concludes, a special “VR Cloud Exhibition Hall” will be launched.
The exhibition is organized by the China Arts and Crafts Museum (China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum), the China Arts and Crafts Society, and the people’s governments of Fuzhou City, Lin’an District, Balin Right Banner, and Qingtian County. It runs from October 18 to October 27, 2024.