In the hands of Chinese sill artisans(手艺人), flour is made into lovely models of people or animals. This art form is called do ugh figurine(面塑). Among the various styles, Beijing's Dough Figurine Lang is a unique folk art. His delicate and lovely handicrafts are storytellers of old and new Beijing. In 2008, it was included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage.
It was created by Lang Shao'an. He created animals and characters from legends, historical stories, and local operas. The finished product is either put at the end of a thin stick, or on a table for display. Some are mostly for children to eat or play with, with simple forms and vivid decorations, while some are delicate pieces of art work for display only. For this reason, during the making process they are often mixed with additives(添加剂) to prevent them from breaking up, and being eaten by insects. Over the course of his long career, Lang Shao'an developed a set of sill fingers with an elegant artistic sense.
Lang Jiaziyu, born in 1995, is the third-generation inheritor of Dough Figurine Lang. When he was 15, he created Beijing Olympic Mascot shaped dough figurines which were highly praised. He looks a bit more fashionable than other folk artisans. In his skilled hands, some figures such as Nezhe are popular with young people.
Like most of the other intangible cultural heritage handicrafts in China, Dough Figurine Lang does not get as much attention from the public. Few young people are willing to take the time to master a skill that does not make money, which has led to a decline in the number of those who are devoted to the handicraft. Good handicrafts need the devotion of artisans from one generation to another.
