He Shuigen: A Lifelong Journey in the World of Ceramic Sculpture
He Shuigen, born in October 1925 in Fengcheng, Jiangxi, is a renowned sculptor and one of the "Three Elders of Sculpture" in China. He is also a master of arts and crafts, a senior member of the Chinese Arts and Crafts Association, and a member of both the Jingdezhen Artists Association and the Jingdezhen Sculpture Research Association. In his early years, he studied under the guidance of ceramic artist Mr. Zeng Longsheng and devoted himself to the creation of ceramic sculptures in Jingdezhen Sculpture Porcelain Factory.
In 1958, he furthered his studies at the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts and excelled in round carving of figures, as well as relief, hollowing, pinching, and carving techniques. His ceramic sculptures such as "Birthday Celebration" and "Lu Ban" have received numerous awards at the national, provincial, and municipal levels in ceramic art competitions. His works have been published in magazines like "Jingdezhen Ceramics," and his ceramic sculpture "Bodhidharma" is part of the collection at the En-Ba China Modern Art Museum in Japan.
In 1987 and 1991, he was invited to Hong Kong and Japan to participate in ceramic art exhibitions and on-site skill demonstrations, and his biography has been included in the book "One Hundred Jingdezhen Ceramic Artists." As one of the founding figures of the Jingdezhen City Sculpture Porcelain Factory, He Shuigen, along with renowned ceramic sculptors Zeng Shandong and Cai Jingbiao, is affectionately known as one of the "Three Elders of Sculpture," and is widely recognized as one of the most prominent contemporary masters of ceramic sculpture.
Though his physical health no longer permits him to engage in active creative work, He Shuigen has successfully imparted his artistic philosophy and ideas to his children, who are involved in ceramic art creation. His eldest son, He Deming, is a provincial master of arts and crafts, a national first-class technician, and an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage of the He Shuigen Ceramics Family. His eldest grandson, He Chao, is a provincial senior craftsman, an associate professor, a national first-class technician, and also an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage of the He Shuigen Ceramics Family. From a young age, they have learned the art of ceramic sculpture from their father and grandfather, actively preserving and passing on the legacy of He Shuigen's ceramic artistry.