Linyi inheritor turns tree roots into art

Lou Xiaoduo, a folk artist from Lanling county in Linyi city, East China's Shandong province, has dedicated decades of his life to inheriting and perfecting his tree-root carving skills.

As one of the traditional Chinese carving arts, tree-root carving turns tree roots into a diverse range of artistic works.

When he was young, Lou's toys were various root carvings made by his father, which inspired Lou to become an inheritor himself.

Lou's work can be divided into three categories: natural types, carved and processed ornamental types, and practical and decorative types. They typically involve characters, animals, plants, flowers, and rare stones, among other things.

Throughout his 40-year artistic career, Lou has created over a thousand tree-root carvings and has sold them both in China and overseas. (Edited by Chen Chuxuan)

An example of Lou Xiaoduo's tree-root carvings. [Photo by Kong Weike for chinadaily.com.cn]

Another example of Lou Xiaoduo's tree-root carvings. [Photo by Kong Weike for chinadaily.com.cn]