Chongqing folk artist Li Longyou works on a porcelain carving. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
Li Longyou, 48, born in Southwest China's Chongqing, is the fourth generation inheritor of Li's Porcelain Carvings of Yongchuan district.
As a folk artist in porcelain carving, Li uses porcelain as "paper" and a knife as a "pen", and transforms porcelain plates into exquisite art with vivid landscapes, figures, flowers and birds.
Having carved porcelain for more than 20 years, Li's artistic ideas come from family traditional porcelain carving, oil painting, traditional Chinese painting and constant innovation.
A number of Li's porcelain carvings combine micro-carvings as well. Laozi Went Out of Hangu Pass bears a piece of micro-carving, Tao Te Ching, in the top left of the plate. The micro-carving has a total of 5,180 Chinese characters, each of which is 1mm×0.8mm in size. The carving of famous Chinese painter Qi Baishi has a piece of micro-carving, Qi Baishi's Biography, in the lower left. Each character in the micro-carving is only 1mm×1mm in size.
In December 2018 Li's porcelain carving was listed in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Yongchuan district.
Li Longyou's porcelain carving Laozi Went Out of Hangu Pass contains a piece of micro-carving, Tao Te Ching in the top left. The micro-carving has a total of 5,180 Chinese characters, each of which is only 1mm×0.8mm in size. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
Li Longyou's porcelain carving of famous Chinese painter Qi Baishi has a piece of micro-carving, Qi Baishi's Biography, in the lower left. Each character on the micro-carving is only 1mm×1mm in size. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
A majestic big cat roars in Li Longyou's porcelain carving Tiger. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
Li Longyou's porcelain carving Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness is a bold artwork. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
Li Longyou's porcelain carving of famous Chinese painter Qi Baishi has a piece of micro-carving, Qi Baishi's Biography, in the lower left. Each character of the micro-carving is tiny, 1mm×1mm in size. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
Li Longyou's porcelain carving Laozi Went Out of Hangu Pass has a piece of micro-carving, Tao Te Ching in the top left. The micro-carving, seen in a close-up, has a total of 5,180 Chinese characters, each of which is only 1mm×0.8mm in size. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
