The work was meticulously created by He Shiliang, an inheritor of brick-carved artwork, which was named a provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2007.
The work meets the standards of even the most discerning critic, with its clear-cut strands of hair on the characters, layered folds of their clothing, shimmering ripples on the surface of a river, and intricate patterns on the stems of flowers and plants.
The Yao family, from Fujian province, was not satisfied with just posing for photographs in front of this work, but took time to fully appreciate it.
"I noticed its cultural significance when I was making my travel plans, such as the way in which this creation reflects regional characteristics and is a delicate work of art on its own merits," Yao said.
He made a point of taking his children to appreciate the work during a visit to the OCT Harbour Plus theme park.
Creating the work involved sculpting figures or patterns on high-quality, fine-textured green bricks. Its distinctive characteristics include delicate knife work, smooth and free-flowing lines, fine and detailed craftsmanship, well-defined layers, a strong 3D visual impact, and lifelike representations.
Whether viewed from a distance or close up, the work is aesthetically pleasing and captivating.
It took He two years to complete, and the work — part of the theme park's efforts to integrate tourism and intangible cultural heritage — has attracted numerous visitors to the venue since being unveiled in April 2020.
"Although this is not my largest work, it is the most special," He said.
He added that he was excited about the theme park's idea in 2018 to integrate tourism and local culture, so he ensured that the work included as many traditional cultural elements from Shunde as possible.
"It can help visitors experience something authentic and special about Shunde," He said.
