Source: CCTV.com
04-10-2009 08:59
Wang Shucun began collecting at 14 years old, determined to save the woodblock prints from the invading Japanese soldiers. Now at the age of 86, he's collected over ten thousand works of folk art: embroidery, paper cuts, puppets, and most of all-new year pictures. Over the years, he has made a considerable donation to the National Art Museum of China. They are being shown at an exhibition that opened Wednesday morning.
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| Wang Shucun, now almost bed ridden from cancer, did not attend Wednesday's opening ceremony. His wife Lin Lingfeng delivered a speech in his absence. |
Wang Shucun, now almost bed ridden from cancer, did not attend Wednesday's opening ceremony. His wife Lin Lingfeng delivered a speech in his absence.
Lin Lingfeng, wife of Wang Shucun said, "Wang Shucun always said to me he just saved some of the pieces that might have been ended up in the hands of foreigners. These are the creations of ordinary Chinese people. They have every right to be preserved just like those done for the imperial court. "
Born in Yang Liuqing, one of the most famous towns of new year picture making in north China, Wang Shuncun grew up to be a committed guardian of its proud heritage. In the 1930s he was stirred to action by the Japanese army who looted the woodblocks to pave the road for ammunition trucks. Since then, he embarked on a journey which took him around the country, into the countryside, ethnic regions and flea markets to obtain more than ten thousand items of folk art.
And he helped in the protection of rare items during Cultural Revolution. A nationwide crackdown on "Four Olds" was launched to sweep away anything that were deemed as Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits and Old Ideas. Some of the pieces he saved can no longer be found in today's market.
