I was born in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, China in 1990. In 2015, I graduated from the Sculpture Department of Luxun Academy of Fine Arts. Now I am a professional sculptor. Sculpture, in a narrow sense, is a discipline. In a broad sense, it is the shaping of life. Works are about character. We shape them, and they also subtly shape us. What matters is what kind of spiritual core is carried and presented to everyone.
“Qing” is a quiet and elegant aesthetic concept in Eastern aesthetics. It is a noble spirit and a healthy aesthetic attitude towards life. In the ontological language of sculpture, it contains the pursuit of the concept of balance. At present, the “The Pure One” series has three concrete expressions of traditional themes: deer, dragon, and literati. I think the concreteness of sculpture is to specifically show one's own character image, which is a realistic portrayal of one's state of mind. The composition of deer and bamboo not only represents the delicate and beautiful state of Eastern imagery, but I also pay more attention to their being regarded as symbols of an upright personality. The composition of deer and fire shows the coexistence of movement and stillness, cold and warmth, and presents the aesthetic concept of a balanced state of mind and prosperous perfection. Many of my works are in cyan. Cyan is like water, possessing a cool and calm atmosphere. The combination of cyan and white endows people with an elegant and refined literary air.
Most of my recent works incorporate the round and satisfactory imagery of the traditional Tai Chi diagram. For example, in “The Pure One - Seeking Seclusion”, the slightly curved full back and the head turning towards the thing it is seeking present the posture of exploring seclusion in the forest, reproducing the interest of “Occasionally obtaining a secluded and peaceful place, and then forgetting the worldly heart. Only then do you know that a true hermit does not necessarily have to be in the forest.”
“Yu” is a gentle aesthetic power in Eastern aesthetics. My father's generation has been engaged in farming all their lives. They are down-to-earth, focused, simple and steady, and a bit clumsy. In my opinion, this is the most important spirit of hard work like an ox in doing aesthetics. The “The Simple One” series reflects on the fast-paced life at present. Should we slow down and deeply cultivate the aesthetics of life?
Most of my works are in symmetrical and slightly dynamic compositional forms. It seems to lack a bit of vividness, but I hope to have a more eternal flavor.
My creative method is rational and experimental. Sculpture is a long-term pursuit. It is about character rather than emotion. First technical ability, then cultivation, and then art. Without any step, it is not profound enough. I often think about how to turn basic skills into humanistic emotions, how to develop one's own individuality from the common education of art academies, and how to make works more pure... Good works need to be immersive. In the creative process, each work will be restarted several times until a relatively ideal one is obtained. The process of sculpture creation can be very hard, but the works should bring a sense of relaxation to everyone.
Sculpture is a life notebook. Use works to retreat into oneself. Aesthetics grows in every bit of our lives. I am Zhang Youzhi, an art worker. I hope everyone can be a “The Pure One” and a “The Simple One” in life.