Tao Yujie: Dough figurine artist kneads modernity into tradition

Yao Yujie's standout creation is a floral dough sculpture incorporating an opera character, tiger, and rooster into a peony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Tao Yujie, born Zhang Cuiying in 1976 in Sichuan, is a trailblazer in Chinese dough figurine art and the inventor of dough landscape art. A graduate of Shijiazhuang Academy of Arts and a national intangible cultural heritage inheritor, Tao has spent over 20 years creating large-scale dough landscapes and produced more than a thousand original works. Her innovative style blends traditional dough techniques with elements of Chinese architecture, painting, and modern life for a fresh, contemporary twist.

Her standout creation, a floral dough sculpture incorporating an opera character, tiger, and rooster into a peony, merges Chinese cultural symbols with modern aesthetics. The peony is a theme she has used creatively to symbolize the prosperity and strength of the nation.

Tao's work breathes new life into traditional art, combining intricate details and lively figures with bold, modern expression. Her contributions have made her a central figure in the evolution of Chinese folk art through preserving cultural heritage while pushing the envelope of dough art.