ARTS | Red sandalwood carvers showcase traditional arts in MGM

Wang Yingqin (left )and Gao Jinhe (right)

Adding to the red sandalwood replicas of two ancient Beijing buildings that are exhibited at the MGM’s Art Space, several master wood carvers from the old capital have demonstrated their craftsmanship to visitors by carving on site.
“People in Macau might not have many chances to see this traditional art. So we want to bring it here for them to feel it,” said Mr Wang Yinqi, who has honed his wood crafting skills over three decades.
According to the master carvers, some 300 red sandalwood carvers spent five years jointly creating the miniature carving of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the Temple of Heaven on the scale of 1:10. Another showpiece, resembling the Yongding Gate, a renowned old Beijing city gate, took the craftsmen another three years to complete.
The craftsmen highlighted that before practicing any carving on timber, the apprentices are required to learn how to make their own tools first. Mr Wang told the media that he owns some 200 self-made knives.
“Every wood carver has their own set of tools. There are different types of knives and hammers and you can choose them according to your needs and the timber you have,” added Mr Gao Jinhe, who has practiced wood crafting for 26 years.
Despite the high likelihood of injuries when making sharp tools, as well as back pain from long hours of sitting, the master carvers said they are drawn to the appeal of woodcarving.
“Over the years, we have accumulated more skills; we can see how we’ve improved in our craftsmanship. That’s why it brings us a sense of joy. Only by trying it yourself, can you understand that,” they explained.
Today, few from the younger generation would consider a profession in this traditional Chinese craftsmanship. But Mr Wang believes that such arts will never be moribund.
Currently, half of the carvers working at the furniture factory that is affiliated to the China Red Sandalwood Museum are aged between 40 and 50, with 40 percent in their 20s, and the remaining 10 percent are old masters aged over 60.
“My children are also working there. They developed a keen interest in red sandalwood carvings while they grew up watching me” Wang stressed. “This is a traditional culture that we mustn’t lose. Once a person gets to know this art form, he will grow fond of it,” he added.