Spirit of craftsmanship drives folk sculptor in Fujian

Folk artist Wu Furong spent more than three decades making thousands of wood sculptures, which have been sold to different regions across the country and overseas.

Born in Tanbian village of Xianyou county in Fujian province, Wu began to learn the skills at age 16. Even though he hadn't yet learned to paint, he developed his skills through pure talent and industriousness.

Most of his artworks are large, with lengths of 3 to 5 meters.

"I spent over 12 hours in my workshop at the entrance of the village to avoid disturbing others," he said. "Sometimes I spent a few days finishing a piece of work, but sometimes it took over half a year."

Some large scale works also require auxiliary tools, such as a ladder.

During the past years, Wu received around 40 students who wanted to learn from him.

"However, not all of them can stick with it," he said. "It takes years of persistence. Integrating traditional Chinese culture and aesthetics into wood carving is all about time and craftsmanship."

He added: "My attitude is to make every wood sculpture as a craftsman. My biggest harvest comes from the joy of completing a beautiful work. I hope more people will pay attention to the traditional art and fall in love with it."