陳利生
昌化石每一塊原石都是精華。錢高潮用之雕刻G20杭州峰會國禮各國政要肖像印章,向世界展示了中國文化跨越時空的藝術(shù)魅力。
2016年秋,全球矚目的G20峰會在杭州召開。
峰會結(jié)束,外交部禮賓司有關(guān)負(fù)責(zé)人說,浙江選材昌化石創(chuàng)作的各國政要肖像印章,是G20杭州峰會上最閃亮、最有意義的禮物。
一
在一件件精美絕倫的國禮背后,各有訴不完的衷情,道不盡的心里話……
2015年11月,有關(guān)方面發(fā)出G20杭州峰會禮品紀(jì)念品征集函,要求作者必須是工藝美術(shù)大師和非遺傳承人。臨安昌化雞血石博物館館長錢高潮收到了這一征集函。
錢高潮出生于昌化石產(chǎn)地,從事昌化石雕刻已40余年。
“我就是一名工匠。我能有今天,緣于家鄉(xiāng)的一塊石頭,它讓我明白人的一輩子只專注于一件事,就能努力干好。”錢高潮向筆者坦言,他認(rèn)為人生有許多選擇,看準(zhǔn)的事就要心無旁騖專心去做。
在漫長的藝術(shù)生涯中,錢高潮專注于石頭世界,創(chuàng)作出千余件石雕作品,出版有多種專著,是臨安石雕界—位名聲很響的人物。如今,他在錢王故里開辟新的事業(yè)。
錢高潮收到征集函后,立馬研究:結(jié)合峰會主題,立足“有創(chuàng)意、有創(chuàng)新、有特色、有精品”的設(shè)計理念;注重講述中國故事,有寓意;合理運用中國傳統(tǒng)文化元素,格調(diào)優(yōu)雅、內(nèi)涵豐富、造型漂亮,有紀(jì)念意義,有文化代表性等要求;體現(xiàn)我國頂級水平,突出“弘揚中國文化,展示大國風(fēng)范,體現(xiàn)中國風(fēng)格、浙江韻味、杭州特色”。于是,錢高潮選材中國四大名石之一的昌化石,雕刻各國政要肖像印章以作應(yīng)征。
錢高潮說:“石文化是東方傳統(tǒng)文化的重要支脈,也是世界文明的一部分?!彼錆M自信地認(rèn)為:“昌化石具備‘細(xì)、潤、潔、膩、溫、凝六德,質(zhì)地溫潤,其多元的文化價值和極高的經(jīng)濟(jì)價值,應(yīng)當(dāng)有可能被選為G20杭州峰會的國禮。我們等待驚喜,這在情理之中?!?/p>
話是這么說,但自參加應(yīng)征后的那段日子,由于執(zhí)行保密的規(guī)定,錢高潮每次上交作品讓專家評審都沒有音訊,他因焦急期盼而心緒忐忑,茶飯不思。不過他依然積極準(zhǔn)備。2016年春節(jié)期間,錢高潮火急火燎地開工了,設(shè)計方案、泥塑、挑選原石……光是尋找石材這一項,錢高潮就跑回上溪老家十多趟。有好多熱心的老鄉(xiāng)得知錢高潮是為G20杭州峰會準(zhǔn)備國禮,就專門把石材送上門供挑選,讓錢高潮十分感動。
經(jīng)過長達(dá)半年的設(shè)計、修改、提升,專家多次評審篩選,錢高潮的方案從近千件作品中入圍前100名,再入圍前20名,最后盼來了有關(guān)方面的錄用通知書。錢高潮難掩激動之情:“雖然只有薄薄一紙,卻寄托了沉甸甸的期盼?!?/p>
二
從收到征集函之日起,到作品完成上交的2016年8月20日止,10個月,錢高潮走過了一條艱辛之路。
錢高潮說:“這是一項重大的政治任務(wù),時間緊、任務(wù)重、壓力大。雕刻石頭是很考驗人的,一塊石料,往往一琢磨就要大半天,心浮氣躁是做不出好作品的?!彼巡┪镳^整個團(tuán)隊都帶動起來,排出倒計時表,落實各人的責(zé)任。
那段時間里,錢高潮的整個身心沉浸在創(chuàng)作中。創(chuàng)作的熱情使他忘記了疲憊,幾乎每天只休息5個小時。他說:“在離上交作品時間越來越近時,我多么希望時光能夠倒退,今天是19日,明天、后天是18日、17日!”
按規(guī)定,錢高潮的設(shè)計方案不能與同行交流,只能自個兒收集資料琢磨。他輾轉(zhuǎn)難眠,滿腦子裝滿國家元首形象,時時與他們進(jìn)行心靈交流。
“我們團(tuán)隊花好幾個月時間搞設(shè)計,對印鈕、基座及圖案作了數(shù)十次修改。我們把獨特的杭州元素滲入作品,比如,基座師法良渚文化時期的禮器玉琮,融權(quán)力和信仰于一體,象征人類文明共同發(fā)展。同時,我們在這一基礎(chǔ)上加進(jìn)新元素,增刻了20根線條,寓意峰會名稱?!卞X高潮侃侃而談。
錢高潮說,最有故事的,要數(shù)印鈕的設(shè)計。開始,他們考慮傳統(tǒng)的瑞獸、國花,但有些國家的動物很難表現(xiàn),而國花作橋鈕也是如此。利用圓雕、鏤雕等技法在昌化石上雕刻花卉很難體現(xiàn)意蘊(yùn)。
錢高潮考慮用中國傳統(tǒng)的生肖鈕,像美國總統(tǒng)奧巴馬屬牛,德國總統(tǒng)默克爾屬馬,創(chuàng)作上不成問題,但俄羅斯總統(tǒng)普京、沙特阿拉伯國王薩勒曼的屬相應(yīng)避諱。錢高潮做了調(diào)整,設(shè)計了北極熊和“沙漠之舟”駱駝,但最后都被自我否定。
構(gòu)思,調(diào)整,推翻,再構(gòu)思。錢高潮將紙、筆放在床頭柜上,隨時記錄夜半醒來一剎那的靈感。日思夜想,點點滴滴,錢高潮腦海中閃過一個又一個方案。印鈕的設(shè)計稿終于正式出爐:統(tǒng)一選擇獅子作為印鈕。
錢高潮動情地說:“確定獅子作為印鈕,是緣于我的理解。拿破侖曾說過,中國是一頭沉睡的獅子。習(xí)主席說,中國這頭獅子已經(jīng)醒了,但這是一只和平的、可親的、文明的獅子?!?/p>
后來證明,這個思路與峰會主題十分貼切。錢高潮說:“中國同世界各國一道共謀和平、共護(hù)和平、共享和平。中國獅子能傳遞這樣的希望!”
錢高潮通過圓雕、鏤雕、浮雕、薄意等雕刻技藝手法,在印鈕上創(chuàng)作了36頭獅子,神態(tài)各不相同,且與每位國家元首的個性相吻合:或大度,或優(yōu)雅,或活潑,或嚴(yán)謹(jǐn),或和藹……錢高潮的刻刀極為精準(zhǔn)地觸及到作品的每一處細(xì)節(jié),每一處細(xì)節(jié)都凝聚著他的思考與追求。
三
肖像印是一種世界性的藝術(shù)語言。錢高潮的昌化石各國政要肖像印章作為國禮已經(jīng)分別送出。最近,這一印譜在杭州世貿(mào)中心展出。
肖像印是用印章的形式表現(xiàn)特定人物的性格,既有印章的基因,也有書畫的元素:以畫家的構(gòu)圖造型能力、書家的筆墨線條功力、印家的鐵筆縱橫之腕力,在方寸之間作藝術(shù)游走。我們從印譜中可以欣賞到錢高潮創(chuàng)作的參會成員國和嘉賓國及有關(guān)國際組織的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人的共計36幅肖像,被一一濃縮在6平方厘米的印石上,惟妙惟肖,各有呈現(xiàn)。
錢高潮創(chuàng)作的肖像印,立意巧妙,神形兼?zhèn)?。他將篆刻技法和中國畫的白描手法,有機(jī)地統(tǒng)一在了印面之中,每一幅肖像都自然率真,神韻刻畫得絲絲入扣。“太像了!我經(jīng)常觀看各種大大小小的展覽,但如此高水準(zhǔn)的人物肖像印還是第一次見到?!笨戳隋X高潮作品的新華社記者這樣感嘆。
談到人物肖像創(chuàng)作,錢高潮毫無保留地抖了出來:“雕好一幅肖像,關(guān)鍵在在于眼睛和嘴巴,這兩點處理好了,人物的表情、神韻就更加細(xì)膩傳神。比如,俄羅斯總統(tǒng)普京表情嚴(yán)肅,那雙犀利的目光十分堅毅,是一個非常有個性的人物?!薄拔冶M可能通過對元首外貌特征的把握,凸現(xiàn)出他的性格氣度,折射出世界大國的風(fēng)采?!?/p>
各國政要肖像印章最終被選定為G20杭州峰會國禮,作品自然不失“匠心”,同時,也蘊(yùn)含著特殊的意味:既承載傳播中國形象和文化的重任,又契合“構(gòu)建創(chuàng)新、活力、聯(lián)動、包容的世界經(jīng)濟(jì)”的峰會主題;既寓意精誠團(tuán)結(jié)、合作共贏,更體現(xiàn)了中國“五位一體”的戰(zhàn)略思想。
錢高潮曾對筆者介紹,各國政要肖像印章中,含有“政治、經(jīng)濟(jì)、社會、文化、生態(tài)”五位一體的元素:獅鈕象征“政治”;基座象征“經(jīng)濟(jì)”;玉琮象征“社會”;印面象征“文化”;昌化石石材象征“生態(tài)文明”。
談起昌化石與G20杭州峰會的緣分,錢高潮感慨:“從來沒有這樣的機(jī)緣,家鄉(xiāng)的一塊石頭代表了國家的形象。”
“我們此次能為G20杭州峰會承制國禮,備感自豪,這是世人對我們‘工匠精神的最大褒獎?!卞X高潮雕刻團(tuán)隊中的成員聊起制作經(jīng)歷,依然難以平靜:“參與制作國禮是我們一輩子的驕傲!”
各國政要肖像印章向世界展示了中國文化跨越時空的魅力,同時也讓我們品讀到又一個最美中國故事。
(除署名外,本文照片由錢友杰拍攝)
The portrait seals made of Changhua Stone were rated by the Department of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the most beautiful and culturally significant item in the G20 “gift box” crafted for the political leaders at the 2016 Hangzhou G20 Summit, which was held in Hangzhou in September of this year.
The stories behind the exquisitely-made national gifts are equally exciting and thought-provoking.
The invitation letter sent by the Artistic Commission of the G20 organizing committee arrived at the office of Qian Gaochao, curator of the Linan-based Changhua Bloodstone Museum, in November of 2015. A Changhua native, the man has 40 years of experiences in bloodstone carving.
“I am a craftsman; and it is the bloodstone of my hometown that made me what I am today. The bloodstone is a strong reminder of the importance of dedication and focusing on just one thing in a lifetime,” Qian Gaochao shared with affection, “Life is full of options, but it is important to focus on what you choose to do with undivided attention.”
The maker of more than a thousand bloodstone works and the author of a dozen published books, Qian Gaochao is a qualified leader in the stone carving circle of Linan. The success of his G20 seal creation, that tells the “China story” and shows the evocative charm of Zhejiang and Hangzhou in an intriguingly cultural way, adds a brilliant touch to his stellar career as an artist.
“Stone carving is a very important bifurcation of the cultural tree of the Orient, and constitutes an integral part of the world civilization,” A high-spirited Qian asserted with great self-confidence.
“The immense cultural and economic values of the Changhua bloodstone qualify the special stone variety as an outstanding member in the ‘national gifts club”, he explained.
The days after the submission of the design plan, however, were a tough time for Qian Gaochao. The suspense brought months of sleepless nights. Preparation work for the project started during the Spring Festival. The selection of the best possible stone materials alone took multiple trips to his home village in Shangxi.
The design and assessment from experts took about half a year to finish. Qians bloodstone seal design founds its way into the 20 finalists list and was approved by the Artistic Commission.
“Stone carving is not for those with an unstable mind. It is a challenge physically and mentally. It takes a lot of hard thinking before you carve into a stone; and the G20 project was the result of what we call team work. Everyone in the museum has a share of the success.”
During the 10 months of the creation, Qian Gaochao worked full-bore, full time, taking a break only when he had to. “With the day of submission coming closer and closer, I wish time could stop for a while for me to reexamine every detail,” he recalled.
“It took the team months to finalize every detail regarding the base and pattern. What we aimed to do was to incorporate not only the essentials of the Hangzhou culture but also the G20 elements into the design. The goal was to have something rich and story-telling, instead of just achieving aesthetic values, and a lot of consideration went to avoiding diplomatic taboos. At the end of the trial-and-error process, we came up with a perfect solution, that is, using the lion image for the design of the knob.”
“The inspiration comes from a line from Napoleon, who once declared, ‘When the sleeping lion (China) awakes, it will shake the world.”
“I feel lucky that the idea turned out to be an echo also to President Xis declaration to the world that “the lion has awakened to embrace world peace and mutual understanding.”