Catch up with the Winter Olympics theme flower lanterns to see the "artistic life" of grassroots artists of the Xinjiang Corps

Source: China News Network

(New Year to the grassroots) rush to make Winter Olympics theme flower lanterns to see the "artistic life" of grassroots artists of the Xinjiang Corps

Urumqi, February 12 (Shi Yujiang Ma Chunyan) "This year's Lantern Festival, I want to make 6 groups of 26 lanterns. Among them are the lanterns themed after the Winter Olympics to express the blessings of our corps for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Song Yu, who is rushing to make flower lanterns, said.

Across China, traditional Lantern Festival flower lanterns are essential. A few days ago, on the site outside the "Grassroots Hall" studio of the 7th Company of the 224th Regiment of the 14th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Song Yu and his apprentices were busy erecting frames, gluing, wearing skeletons, wrapping red silk, and pasting gold edges. The reporter noted that although the various flower lanterns are still semi-finished products, the unique shape attracts the passing people to stop.

Song Yu was a staff member of the Seventh Company, and his craftsmanship was well known in the 14th Division: he wrote well with brush strokes, was also good at ink painting, and was proficient in various carving techniques.

In the local area, which son gets married, which daughter gets married, they all look for him to write a happy couplet and cut the happy word. Almost every spring festival, Song Yu will go to some regimental venues to write the Spring Festival League for the people for free. Not long ago, Song Yu's art innovation studio "Grassroots Hall" was also rated by the Xinjiang Corps Federation of Trade Unions as the 2021 Corps Labor Model and Artisan Talent Innovation Studio, and was known as "Grassroots Artist" by locals.

"At first, willow branches were used, but they were not used, then they were changed to bamboo, and now they are made of round steel, and the flower lanterns are becoming more and more exquisite." Song Yu said that year after year, the lanterns of the Lantern Festival are getting bigger and bigger, and more and more people are watching the lanterns.

Song Yu introduced that in addition to the theme of the Winter Olympics, he also made flower lanterns with the theme of zodiac signs, honest government culture, folklore and the spirit of the corps. "I hope these lanterns can add to the festive atmosphere here and be loved by everyone."

Song Yu has been interested in writing, painting and painting since childhood. When he grew up, he specialized in arts and crafts, but after graduating from secondary school, he did not find a professional-related job in the local area, and this hobby and specialty was gradually shelved.

In 2009, Song Yu and his family settled in the 224th Regiment. When he first engaged in agricultural production in Tuanchang, when he saw the roots of poplar trees and red willow trees dug out by people in the sand pile, Song Yu's suppressed passion in his heart was rekindled.

Carved jade (infographic). Photo by Gao Xiaoxia

"I feel like these roots have their own lives." Song Yu recalled that after work, with the help of his wife, he moved the roots of the tree home with one foot deep and one foot shallow in the sandbag. After that, as soon as he finished his farm work, he shut himself in his home and immersed himself in his own world.

When the company colleagues saw the root carvings placed in the courtyard of Song Yu's family, they did not believe at first that he had made them. These "garbage" that were originally seen by the local people have become tea tables, wooden benches, and art ornaments.

Song Yu, who gradually integrated into the life of the tuanchang, found more and more "treasures" in his life. "The laterite here is suitable for clay sculptures, and Gobi jade and strange stones can be polished and carved into handicrafts." He said.

In recent years, with the rapid economic and social development of the Xinjiang Corps, many company employees have bought buildings at the regimental headquarters or in the city, and some people will ask Song Yu to buy a few favorite root carvings and stone carving ornaments to decorate their new homes or restaurants.

"What you make can be recognized by others, and you can also earn money, which feels very fulfilling." Song Yu said that he will also visit folk artists everywhere to draw inspiration from them.

In the process of continuous study and study, Song Yu's career has gradually grown. In the past two years, he has introduced more than 10 machines such as engraving machines, cutting machines, drilling machines and other machines from Henan and other places, and set up his own studio with the support of Tuanchang.

The fame is big, and there are still many people looking for Song Yu to learn art. Li Yanchun, an employee of the second company of the regiment, learned to make sculptures with Song Yu, and after two years, he became a teacher, and now often works with "master" Song Yu.

Today, in addition to the studio in Qilian's home, Song Yu also created a studio in the 14th Division Vocational and Technical School in 2017, which is also a "grassroots hall". With the help of this carrier, Song Yu immersed himself in teaching students who love calligraphy and painting, so that traditional Chinese culture and Xinjiang regional culture can be exchanged and blended on campus. (End)