Wu Weishan, born in Dongtai of Jiangsu province, is a distinguished sculptor who has created lots of great sculpture artworks with international influence. Titled as Curator of National Art Museum of China, Vice-chairman of China Artists Association, and President of China City Sculpture Committee, Wu has long been committed to expressing the spirit of Chinese culture through his sculptures. His works can be found in many well-known museums and exhibitions all across the world. Former UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon once commended that his sculptures had reflected the soul of all mankind. He was appointed the academician of French Academy of Fine Arts a few days ago. His sculptures are praised as “great art of oriental aesthetic spirit and aesthetic value of all mankind”, and “representatives of new spirit of the era”.
“It’s an honor to express my pride for Jiangsu through Xinhua Daily Media Group, the leading media platform in Jiangsu,” said Wu, when he accepted a telephone interview with JiangsuNow amid his busy schedule.
Wu came back to Jiangsu for a few times during the past year, caring and contributing to the province. Talking about the First Jiangsu Development Summit in May 2017, Wu was still excited and called it “a friend-gathering and a thrilling event”.
During the summit, he also delivered a theme speech, elaborating his artistic concept, and donated two sculptures to the newly-build Jiangsu Center for the Performing Arts. Sparing no effort to pay back his hometown, Wu tried seven times to make a perfect version of recording an essay in hometown dialect for the voice library of Jiangsu.
No matter where he stands, be it Jiangsu or world-class art centers, the pride for his hometown always lies in his speeches. “Jiangsu is a place with many brilliant people, abundant resources, and rich cultural heritages, from which I draw inspiration,” said Wu, “there are many ways for an artist to contribute to his hometown, and a piece of great artwork is among the best.”
There are hundreds of Wu’s sculptures exhibited in Jiangsu, which is a symbol of Wu’s affection to his hometown. All of Wu’s sculptures became local cultural icons in Jiangsu, such as the bronze sculpture group outside the entrance of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, sculptures of Eight Suzhou Sages at the South Square of Suzhou Railway Station, and so on. It’s always part of Wu’s artistic attempt to promote Jiangsu cultures and stories through art.
Wu has been committed himself to the promotion of the development of modern sculpturing in Jiangsu. He launched a series of sculpture exhibitions in Nanjing last December, and the special exhibition of “Sculptures of Ancient Cultural and Artistic Elites in Jiangsu” attracted lots of university participants. According to Wu, to make sculptures for these elites is an artistic way of memorizing them.
Wu has been actively introducing Chinese cultures to the world. During the past year of 2017, as a cultural ambassador of China in the new era, Wu spread Chinese spirit and traits through his creations standing in various famous cities or museums in the world. His 4.5-meter sculpture of Confucius erects in the square, now called China Square, in front of the city government buildings of Curitiba, Brazil in October, 2017. A sculpture, named “Door to Soul?- Dialog?between Taras Shevchenko and Du Fu”, was unveiled in the center of Kyiv city, capital of Ukrain, to mark the 25th anniversary of Sino-Ukrain diplomatic relations; while another sculpture “Quest for Truth” was housed at the National Art Museum of Belarus, to celebrate the 25th Sino-Belarus diplomatic relations.
“I’m a son of Jiangsu, and my heart will never forget its root.” Looking forward to the year of 2018, Wu sent his wishes, “I hope that under the guidance of President Xi’s remarks of advancing Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, all artists in Jiangsu can draw inspiration from the time and the mass, and join hands to show the beauty of Jiangsu in the new era.”
