Craftsman seeks to influence aesthetics of Buddha statues

Buddha statues made by artist Jiang Sheng are not only displayed in galleries and museums, but also worshipped by Buddhists either in well-known temples or in their homes.

The 26-year-old, among the youngest in China to devote himself to making Buddha statues, straddles art and craftsmanship to create his pieces.

Statues made by Jiang are different from traditional images. The young man weaves "creative elements" into the gestures, positions and clothes based on the basic requirements of how a statue should look. For instance, the Buddha's clothes are very long, like a waterfall pouring down.