Taizhou craftsman blends tradition and innovation in glass art

Wu Gang works on a glass engraving. [Photo/The official news website of Taizhou]

Wu Gang, an inheritor of Taizhou glass engraving techniques in Jiaojiang district, Taizhou, Zhejiang province, has been selected for Zhejiang's seventh batch of representative inheritors of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage.

For more than three decades, Wu has used grinding wheels as his "brush" to create detailed glass artworks, including hundreds of crystal portraits of Chinese and international figures. Some portraits of global leaders have been presented as state gifts to overseas dignitaries, including former French president Jacques Chirac and former United States president George H.W. Bush.

Born in Jiaojiang in 1965, Wu grew up in a family devoted to glass engraving. His father, Wu Zixiong, was a pioneer of Taizhou glass art and established a distinctive local style. Building on traditional techniques featuring landscapes, flowers, birds, and calligraphy, Wu developed a portrait engraving method by combining Western crystal carving concepts with local engraving skills.

Through precise point and line carving, Wu aims to capture the expressions and character of his subjects. Over the years, he has been invited to demonstrate his craft in countries including the US, France, Japan, and Austria, showcasing Taizhou's traditional craftsmanship overseas.

Wu believes intangible cultural heritage must remain connected with everyday life to continue to develop. Under his guidance, the Wu Zixiong Glass Art Museum has introduced public workshops and developed practical cultural products, allowing more people to experience glass engraving.