She inkstone making technique, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor

Fang Jianchen

He was skilled in carving inkstones and also proficient in calligraphy and painting. His carved She inkstones were exquisitely crafted, perfectly natural, and endlessly fascinating.

It is hard to imagine that an artist's work can be both profound and beautiful, but Fang Jianchen has achieved it. If his inkstone carvings are close to the former, his ink paintings naturally belong to the latter, just like the profound culture of his hometown and the beautiful scenery of Huangshan.

Fang Jianchen is deeply influenced by Huizhou culture, and the beauty of Huizhou inkstone carving is fully reflected in his works. Whether it is shaped like a spring, a meteorite, a zither head, a wooden clog, or a book page, it shows the brilliance of visual form at the source of culture and reveals the charm of seeing the big in the small, overcoming the skill with the simple, and being naturally magnificent.

Fang Jianchen, who is known as the "Number One Knife in Inkstone Carving," retains the simplicity of his "true self" in his inkstone carving works. He maintains a thorough understanding at the individual level and preserves the natural quality of minimal carving in his control of the material and shape.

Fang Jianchen, now in his sixties, has achieved artistic accomplishments beyond inkstone carving. He has also dabbled in ink painting, music, and dance, each with its own distinct style, earning him the reputation of a prodigy in the Huangshan area.

Master Zhao Qingtao and Teacher Fang Jianchen