Zhang Rongda places a feather-like ornament on the hat of the bridegroom, the finishing touch on his latest creation "Getting Married."

The clay sculpture, about 50 centimeters in height, features a newly-wed couple in Beijing in the early 20th century. They are dressed in old-fashioned wedding attire, the bride's head covered with a piece of cloth and the bridegroom smiling.

"It is only one of the 1,000 pieces I plan on doing to depict everyday life in Beijing in the old days," said Zhang Rongda. In his studio in downtown Beijing, familiar street scenes of the old city unfold before you -- an old man sharpening a knife, a barber and his customer, a shoe-repair stand with three persons.

"I'm planning to portray the 360 jobs popular in the old days, and then everyday life in the narrow back alleys of old Beijing, particularly those described in the works of famous writer Lao She," said Zhang, 49, who is listed as one of the 100 folk arts and crafts masters in Beijing.

"I'm trying to record history in clay."

For Zhang clay speaks in a language more powerful than words. "Clay speaks to my heart evoking joy and sorrow," he said.

He has made up his mind to reach his goal of 1,000 sculptures. "It might take me more than 10 years to finish them, but I'll try," said Zhang, who has so far finished 30 pieces.

He said that some of his works are scheduled for display in the clay hall of the new Capital Museum upon its completion in 2005.

Gifted sculptor

"I never expected that the mud I have loved playing with since I was only 3 years old would help me realize my dream -- to become a painter or an artist," Zhang said. Having grown up in a hutong off Niujie, or Ox Street, a Muslim neighborhood in the southern part of Beijing, Zhang has a special passion for back alley life and clear memories of the old traditions and ways of life there.

Born into a worker's family he has a natural talent for art. He loved to draw on whatever he could find when he was a little boy, and shaping things out of mud was one of his special childhood pastimes.

"I remember the first thing I made was a small clay pistol," Zhang recalled. That was when he was only 3 years old. Many other creations followed, including great numbers of small clay tanks and rifles.

"My family was poor," said Zhang. "My parents could not afford to buy me fancy toys. Playing with sand and mud filled many what might have been empty moments of my childhood with gentle joy."

When he reached school age, he took an extra course in art, which inspired his big dream -- to go to art college. Unfortunately, his hope was shattered by the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). But Zhang never lost his interest in art. He continued practicing his drawing.

After graduation from middle school in 1973, Zhang, like most of the children his age, went to the countryside to do farm work. In Zhang's case it was Daxing County, in the suburbs of Beijing. Working in the fields all day long, Zhang picked up on his childhood hobby again -- modeling things out of clay during breaks. When night came, he drew sketches of the villagers under the dim light in his dorm.

One day a film projection team came to the village and screened an Albanian movie called "The Eighth Soldier Is a Bronze Sculpture," a story about Albanians fighting the German fascists during World War II.

"I remembered nothing about the movie except the sculptor who was moulding a clay head for a soldier," Zhang recalled. The next day he made a similar one during a break in his work in the fields. "All my buddies and the villagers were astonished to see that it looked exactly the same as the one in the movie," he said.

The accomplishment greatly encouraged Zhang. "It was the first time for me to experience the real joy of creation," he said.

He has ever since stuck to clay. He caught the joy and sorrow of the villagers in clay, and had so mastered the technique that he could complete a figure in 10 minutes, using only his fingers.

Two years later, he returned Beijing and worked first in a construction company as a bricklayer. He has changed jobs many times, trying to find one he likes, but he has never ceased in his quest for artistic fulfillment.

For quite a long time, taking art courses focusing on clay sculpture has been his main source of interest after work. And drawing eggs is another pastime he enjoys.

He used to take free art courses at the workers' club in Chongwen District where Qian Shaowu, a noted sculptor from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, gave free lectures.

Apart from practicing his drawing Zhang was always on the outlook for art books. In 1994 he spent 4,000 yuan (US$483) to study six months at the Central Academy of Art and Design.

Turning point

Making a clay head for former US president Richard Nixon might have been the catalyst that changed Zhang's life. Zhang still remembers the day when he met the former US president. It was in April, 1993, when Richard Nixon visited China. One day Nixon went to a Peking Opera show at the Tianqiao Tea House where Zhang was working.

"I only got a glimpse of him as he entered the room," said Zhang, who had been standing at the entrance. Within 10 minutes Zhang finished a small sculpture for Nixon.

"I could feel his surprise when I presented the clay figure to him after the show," Zhang recalled. Nixon who it is said seldom gave his autograph, gave one this time to Zhang as a memento.

Zhang has ever since been invited to do clay sculptures for visiting foreign leaders, including the presidents of the Republic of Croatia, New Zealand and Portugal.

During the Spring Festival in 1999 Zhang took part in a folk art tour to Singapore. When Singapore Premier Goh Chok Tong came to Zhang's stand at the show, Zhang made a clay head for Goh on the spot. "So quick, but it looks just like me," said the premier.

He also gave on-the-spot demonstrations in Taiwan and Hong Kong, drawing many viewers.

A supportive family

Clay has helped Zhang fulfill his dream of becoming an artist, and so have his supportive wife and his son, who also loves art.

"I always feel grateful to my wife," said Zhang. "She has gone through hard times with me."

"Although I know nothing about art, I appreciate his love for clay sculpture," said Ma Youqin, Zhang's wife, who is now selling insurance after quitting her job as a kindergarten teacher. She likes to watch Zhang working on his sculptures at home, sometimes offering her comments. "At least I can tell whether it catches the image of the real person," said she.

Apart from living in penury, Ma said she has had to put up with a lot of dirt because of Zhang's work with clay, especially after the birth of their son Zhang Wei, because father and son used to play together with mud.

Fortunately his son has been able to realize another of Zhang's dreams -- to go to college. The son, 21, is now studying industrial design at the Beijing Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture.

"My father has stimulated my interest in art. When I was still a toddler, he encouraged me to play with clay with him," Zhang Wei said.

"What my father has done is really not easy," said the young man, showing his admiration. "I hope I can achieve something in my creative life in the future just like my father has done."

(China Daily April 15, 2004)