Xinjiang artist's hand-stitched dolls capture regional life

In her living room in Hami, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, surrounded by colorful fabrics and expressive handcrafted figures, 47-year-old Wang Ju, the inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage Xiusu Bu'ou, brings new life to Xinjiang's traditions.

This unique art form blends embroidery and sculpting, resulting in lifelike soft dolls with emotive faces that seem ready to speak. Each tells a story rooted in the landscapes and lives of Northwest China.

Wang is the only full-time practitioner of Xiusu Bu'ou in Xinjiang. Her creations capture scenes of everyday life, including older men selling Hami melons, herders on horseback, workers in the fields, and residents gathered around playing chess.

Influenced by her mother's handcrafting skills, Wang developed an early passion for making dolls. But it wasn't until 2017 that she began formal training, joining a government-supported workshop led by master artisan Shan Xiumei. From that point on, Wang committed herself to the art.

Each doll is a meticulous work of textile sculpture. The body is formed from wire and filled with polyester fiberfill to create structure and softness. The expressive face is stitched entirely by hand and takes the longest to complete.

"The face is the spirit of the doll," Wang says. "No machine can recreate it. It holds the emotion and personality of the figure."

Her creative process begins with sketches and story concepts, followed by scene design, sculpting, and facial embroidery. Each figure is finished with traditional costumes, often sewn from Atlas silk, and carefully applied makeup to enhance realism.

Among her most ambitious works is Transhumance, a detailed recreation of Kazakh herders migrating with camels and livestock.

Based on field visits to Kazakh friends, the piece took four months to complete and won the Silver Prize at the prestigious Baihua Cup, a top arts and crafts award. It has been on display at the Xinjiang Art Museum since October 2024.

Wang's dolls are deeply personal, often reflecting her memories and daily life in Xinjiang's multi-ethnic cultures. Recent creations include the mythological figure Nezha, which drew large crowds at local exhibitions.

"For me, this is a mission," she says. "Through these dolls, I want to show the world the beauty and richness of Xinjiang."