Lei Yixin

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Lei Yixin
simplified Chinese: 雷宜锌
Born 1954
Changsha
Occupation Sculptor
Known for Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial

Lei Yixin born ca. 1953, is a prominent Chinese sculptor. He has been designated "Master Sculptor" at home.

Lei was born to a family of scholars in Changsha, Hunan, China.

Lei was one of millions of "bourgeois educated youth" sent to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. As a way to develop a skill other than farming during the seven years he spent toiling in the fields, Lei started drawing. His diary became his scrapbook, with a few lines of comments of his drawings. When Lei applied to college, he submitted the diary as his portfolio.

Lei was among the first class of students after the Cultural Revolution to be able to go to art school in 1978; he graduated in 1982.[1]

He first found work in a publishing company as a draughtsman, but was spotted by a local government official, who asked and encouraged him to build monuments.

Lei won top prizes in national competitions three consecutive years, and was recognised as a master sculptor, which came with a lifetime stipend from the Chinese government. He has sculpted some 150 public monuments, including statues of Mao Zedong.[1] Some of his works are in China's National Art Gallery collection[2]

The 2.3 metre-tall sculpture at the International Stone Sculpture Conference drew attention to his work[3]. Ed Jackson, the executive architect at the foundation of MLK Foundation was immediately impressed by Lei's sculpture "Contemplation"[4] at the Minnesota Rocks! Symposium in June of 2006[5][6] and in 2007, Lei was named head sculptor for the "Stone of Hope", at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Ariana Eunjung Cha, "A King Statue 'Made in China'?", The Washington Post, August 14, 2007
  2. ^ Liu Enming, Master sculptor selected for Martin Luther King, Jr memorial", WWEnglish.com, 27 February 2007
  3. ^ Chinese artist to sculpt statue of Martin Luther King, News Guangdong, August 16, 2006
  4. ^ Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Project commissions Minnesota Rocks! artist Lei Yixin
  5. ^ Mike Xiong, "MLK committee decides Chinese master sculptor is the right artist for the job", China Insight, July 17, 2007
  6. ^ Todd Messelt, Symposium Showcases Diversity of Minnesota Stone, Building Stone, Winter 2006
  7. ^ Chinese master sculptor to produce MLK memorial carving, CNN, February 15, 2007
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