Chongqing - Recently, heroic Chongqing people have worked together and painted a moving picture with practical actions to fight mountain fires. Many artists in Chongqing not only went to the fire scene but also picked up brushes to create piles of soul-stirring masterpieces.
Tang Zhongguo's sculpture "Knight of Fire." (Photo provided to iChongqing)
A rider does a wheelie with a basket on his back on a rugged, steep slope.
Lately, a "Knight of Fire" sculpture has flooded local screens. Its organic combination of blistering pace, eagerness, and the rider's strong determination to deliver the supplies make it such a moving image.
"I didn't think much of the technique. It was just a personal expression of my heart," said Tang Zhongguo, the creator of the artwork "Knight of Fire." He serves on the Sculpture Professional Committee of the China National Arts and Crafts Society and the Chongqing Artists Association. His works "Beacon Years" and "Chinese Soul" won the international gold medal at the 9th World Chinese Art Conference Hong Kong Exhibition.
He said that after the mountain fires in many parts of Chongqing, he was shocked to see scores of young people riding motorcycles, shuttling across the steep hillside to deliver supplies for the front-line firefighters. This is why he created this work.
"When I created the sculpture, I initially allowed the figures to behave professionally, like wearing helmets, long pants, and protective gear. In the final styling, I took off the helmet and other elements to emphasize the bravery of ordinary people in the face of disaster." Tang Zhongguo said.
The sculpture "Fired Phoenix - Beibei, China 2022" (cast iron), which reflects Chongqing's common struggle against mountain fires, has also attracted wide attention. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
The form of this work, the sculpture "Fired Phoenix - Beibei, China 2022", originates from the innovative inheritance of the ancient Yunnan bronzes, and the two elements of mountain and fire condense into the outer outline of the work.
Shaking arc-shaped flames represent the impact of nature's "magical power" on human beings, while densely populated spots above the flames signify the unity of people in the face of disasters.
In dealing with the relationship between man and nature, the helicopter at the top illustrates the significance of technology.
Rust red symbolizes the memory of drought and fire, as well as the "hot" fighting spirit of the Chongqing people who forge ahead bravely.
"As an artist, I hope to use my micro power to record this shocking historical moment," said Shi Fu, a teacher in the Department of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts of Southwest University.
Wei Dong, director of the China Artists Association and vice chairman and secretary-general of the Chongqing Artists Association, said literature and art are the horns of the age, the most representative, and the most capable of defining its ethos.
"Forward Forward Forward" by Zhang Chunxin. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
The heroic people of Chongqing worked together to overcome the difficulties. Therefore, Chongqing artists have created diverse artworks to portray the times with a high degree of cultural awareness and confidence.
Among these works, Zhang Chunxin's "Forward Forward Forward," Lin Min's "Fire King Kong," Wang Rui's "The Coolest Motorcycle Boy," and other masterpieces also make a significant impact.
"The Coolest Motorcycle Boy" by Wang Rui. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
(Chen Lu, as an intern, also contributed to the report.)