Smile on Buddhist sculpture draws attention at ICIF

The Gansu pavilion made a strong impression with a series of artistic works featuring the Maiji Mountain Grottoes at the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF), which opened on June 7 and will last until June 11.

Among the numerous works, a simulated sculpture of a small novice monk from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) in Cave 133 of the Maiji Mountain Grottoes, and a copy of the sculpture of Empress Wen of the Western Wei Dynasty (535-556) in Cave 44 caught the eye of many visitors.

These two images have a common characteristic – both have smiles on their faces. The latter work is even praised as "Mona Lisa of the East".

Speaking of the sculpture in Cave 44, the creator, Dong Ruijun, said that the figure's faint smile, which is beautiful and calm, seems to leave the world with peace of mind and tolerance.

However, the light in cave 44 is too dim and the sculpture is barely discernible in the gloom. There is currently no way for people to appreciate the whole piece.

"We have many treasures in Maiji Mountain. It would be a pity if we don't use hand-painted paintings to display them intuitively," He Yanyun, a sculptor form Tianshui, Gansu province, talked about his original intention when attending the Shenzhen Cultural Expo.

He also introduced the unique usuniku bori (thinly carved) technique used in the Maiji Mountain Grottoes.

The so-called "usuniku bori" is a combination of murals and sculptures. The decorative and clothing parts of the Buddha statues are all dealt with using wall painting skills, and the bare body parts of the Buddha statues take on a three-dimensional effect. The sculptures can be only five millimeters thin.

In the Maiji Mountain Grottoes, the clay molding sculptures are also highly praised. One side of such sculptures cannot be seen for they are embedded in the wall. The figures seem to fly out of the wall, agile and free.

"Look! There is an obvious slit in the neck of this shadow sculpture. The head of the sculpture was actually installed after it was molded." He Yanyun explained to tourists the mystery of the clay sculptures in Maiji Mountain Grottoes.