Research On The Narrative Sculptures Of Ni Ren Zhang

As a representative of late Qing dynasty folk art,the colored clay sculptures created by Ni Ren Zhang are an important reflection of Qing dynasty folk culture.This article carefully analyzes the narrative qualities of Ni Ren Zhang’s colored clay sculptures in response to the cultural impact they have had on the public.Through methods such as image analysis and documentary evidence,the article explores the characteristics of the narrative qualities of these sculptures and their cultural logic,thereby providing insights into the storytelling methods used by Ni Ren Zhang and the social concepts.The article focuses on three questions from the perspective of narrative studies:what kind of stories do Ni Ren Zhang’s narrative colored clay sculptures tell,how are these stories told,and why are they told?Drawing on 24 narrative colored clay sculptures and related literature,the article first examines the narrative images and texts of Ni Ren Zhang’s colored clay sculptures.It points out that the sculptures imitate literature and drama,and in the process of imitation and reconstruction,they narrate aspects of Ming and Qing history,ethics,religion,folklore,and romance,expressing the emotions and inner world of ordinary people.Second,the article summarizes the narrative methods employed by Ni Ren Zhang’s colored clay sculptures.By constructing a narrative space through the language and non-language symbols of the sculptures,using composition techniques such as horizontal scrolls,symmetry,and geometry,and employing single-scene and continuous-narrative narrative modes,the sculptures become part of a chronology while also presenting stories appreciated by both the educated and common people.Finally,by analyzing the unique characteristics of the colored clay sculpture medium and late Qing dynasty society,the article clarifies the reasons for the emergence of the narrative qualities found in Ni Ren Zhang’s colored clay sculptures.Because of their dependent existence and lack of independence,the sculptures rely on visual artistic elements and discourse functions,attaching themselves to literary art and its market,becoming a medium for the dissemination of ideological culture.The article concludes that the handling of narrative techniques and spatial-temporal expression in Ni Ren Zhang’s colored clay sculptures provides valuable lessons for contemporary sculptural art and image communication,but also highlights how the narrative qualities can be a double-edged sword for colored clay sculptures,with the balance between independence and dependence being a key issue for sculptors to consider.