Dough sculptor blends tradition with pop culture

Dough sculpting is a time-honored folk art across China. Artists mix wheat flour and other ingredients into a pliable paste, then shape it by hand and with specialized tools.

"Dough art must evolve," Chen insists. He blends modern trends with traditional techniques, moving beyond floral and animal motifs toward a more realistic style. By weaving in pop-culture elements — from anime to film characters — he creates instantly recognizable figures, such as the cinematic hero Nezha.