Huizhou-style root carving wins award at Shenzhen fair

Lu Jun, a national carving technician and an inheritor of the Huizhou Root Carving – a provincial intangible cultural heritage item in Anhui – has won the gold prize at the China Arts and Crafts Cultural and Creative Competition.

The competition was held during the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, which was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong province from June 7 to 11.

Lu's Huizhou-style root carving work titled Wonderful Performance features a three-dimensional round carving technique and the vivid depiction of a monkey holding a straw hat.

Lu Jun's award-winning root carving work. [Photo/xuexi.cn]

Lu's works are based on peculiar pines and strange-looking rocks in Huangshan Mountain, legendary figures, folk tales, and animals, as well as penjing, or Chinese bonsai tree. During the fair, many high-end collectors showed interest in acquiring Lu's root carvings.

Lu Jun and his root carving work. [Photo/xuexi.cn]

Lu said that the primary focus of the craft is on utilizing the root's natural form and using minimal yet essential modifications to enhance its inherent beauty.