Date: June 5–11, 2025
Location: Kermanshah, Iran
Activity: Individual on-site creation, Collaborative artwork
Material: Walnut logs (diameter: 35 cm; height options: 50 cm / 100 cm)
Theme: Traditional or creative works incorporating cultural symbols from the respective countries
Participants
Ge Yunfei
Ge Yunfei, born in 1963, studied art and painting at the Mancheng County Cultural Center in Baoding City, Hebei Province after graduating from high school. Later, he inherited the traditional craftsmanship of his predecessors and became a craftsman of the Ge family. He further studied at a school of arts and crafts for decades. Ge Yunfei has been researching and creating root carving art since 1983. In 2003, Yunfei Root Carving Studio was established.
His work "Bodhidharma" won the gold medal of the Hundred Flowers Award for Chinese Arts and Crafts in 2016, and was rated as a master of arts and crafts in Baoding in the same year. In 2018, he won the first on-site creation gold award in the root carving industry in Hebei Province and was awarded as an inheritor. He Won the second prize in the Hebei Provincial Arts and Crafts Fine Arts Competition in 2023.
Zhou Yang
Zhou Yang, born in 1973, has been engaged in artistic creation for more than 30 years. He is a senior craft artist, the director of the Mihe Craftsmanship Shop in Shengzhou City, a master of arts and crafts in Zhejiang Province, and the inheritor of Shaoxing root carving. He was awarded the title of "National Rural Youth Craft Art Master" by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and was hired as a national level wood carving art researcher at the China Wood Carving Museum.
With the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, he visited Egypt, France and other countries as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan for carving performances, and represented China to participate in the WWD on-site exchange of wood carving skills in Nepal, the United States and Turkey hosted by the International Wood Culture Society. Dedicated to the creation of Maitreya's "The Bag Monk" in China, the unique "Laughing Maitreya Walks the World" has been included in the "Telling China's Story" by the China Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Wen Zuowei
Wen Zuowei, born in 1986 in Fujian Province, China. He began studying arts and crafts in 2002. In 2005, he studied sculpture design at Beihai Art Institute in Guangxi, and later studied at the studio of Professor Zhang Dasheng in the Sculpture Department of Central Academy of Fine Arts. In 2010, he studied wood carving with Chinese master of arts and crafts, Lin Xueshan. In 2017, he founded a wood carving studio. Currently he is a Senior Level 1 Technician, Craft Artist, and Fuzhou City Arts and Crafts Level 2 Famous Artist. He has won many awards in woodcarving, his work "National Essence - Drunken Concubine" won the highest award in the 2018 Taiwan International Woodcarving Competition.
Liao Jiangluo
Liao Jiangluo, born in 1987, senior technician and senior craft artist, awarded the title of "Zhejiang Craftsman" and inheritor. He studied under Gao Gongbo, a master of handicrafts in the Asia Pacific region and a master of Chinese arts and crafts. He delves deeply into the woodcarving art. The works have won gold medals many times in national competitions, with a unique artistic style that combines a rich pattern with a lively and dynamic charm. He achieved an aesthetic conception that combines movement and stillness, demonstrating profound artistic attainments and innovative thinking.
Ye Zhu
Ye Zhu was born in Zhejiang in 1983. He is a master of arts and crafts in Hainan Province, director of Hainan Arts and Crafts Association, executive vice president of Yongjia County Arts and Crafts Association, and inheritor of Yongjia Woodcarving.
In 2000, he began learning wood carving with his father and later studied under the Chinese master of arts and crafts, Gao Gongbo. In 2015, he founded Wenzhou Muzhu Woodcarving Co., Ltd. The company is currently a practical internship base for Tongji University. His works have been exhibited and awarded prizes for many times, and his work "International Loong Boat" has been selected as the Wenzhou featured souvenir in 2023.
Chen Baoming
Chen Baoming, born in 1972, studied under the guidance of the experienced craftsman He Yufa in 1988 in Huian of Fu Jian province. Graduated from the Art and Design Department of Northeast Normal University. Established Yiheyuan Woodcarving Craft Factory in 2009. He is a national first-class/senior technician, senior arts and crafts artist.
He has participated in on-site root carving and wood carving competitions many times and achieved excellent results, winning honorary titles such as "Fujian Province Root Carving Art Master", "Fujian Province Gold Medal Craftsman", "National Arts and Crafts Industry Technical Expert", and "China Wood Carving Champion", etc.
Zhang Wu
Zhang Wu, born in 1985 in Hunan province, a forth generation inheritor of woodcarving, graduated from the Sculpture Department of Public Art at China Academy of Art and vice chairman of Shaoyang Folk Association.
Xie Zhenggen
Xie Zhenggen, born in 1982, from an early age, Xie Zhenggen was immersed in the culture of woodcarving. At the age of 16, he picked up a carving knife and began his carving career. After over three years of apprenticeship with local folk woodcarving master, he went to renowned woodcarving town such as Putian and Dongyang to further refine his skills. Engaged in the woodcarving industry for over 20 years, Xie Zhenggen founded the Juyi Woodcarving Factory. His woodcarving works, such as "Thoughts" "Ancient Residence of Hometown" and "Ancient Village in Eastern Fujian" have won various awards. The work "Fortune" won the gold medal at the Huian International Carving Art Expo.