Sculpting the soul of Tianjin

The documentary "Sculpting the Soul of Tianjin" follows Zhang Yu, the sixth-generation inheritor of the renowned Clay Figure Zhang family. It traces his lineage back to his ancestor Zhang Mingshan, who arrived in Tianjin from Shaoxing in the 19th century and transformed the local clay into lifelike figurines.

Tianjin, with its historic concessions, bustling old towns, and modern skyline, has long been a city where East meets West, and tradition meets innovation. Through the lens of the Clay Figure Zhang family, we see a microcosm of this dynamic. The release of this episode comes at a moment of global attention for the city, which coincides with the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin. Just as the summit highlights the city as a hub of diplomacy, commerce, and international exchange, "Sculpting the Soul of Tianjin" showcases another facet of the city – its deep-rooted cultural traditions and enduring artistic heritage.

Through intimate reflections, Zhang Yu invites viewers into the meticulous craft of clay sculpting and the challenges of maintaining tradition amidst urban transformation. He recounts the early days of the family museum, where even as a child he was captivated by the lifelike expressions and vivid colors of the clay figurines, a fascination that would shape his life and career. Zhang thinks the highest form of respect for tradition is to preserve it in museums, then allow future generations the freedom to create anew. "The Clay Figure Zhang style may fade, but clay art won't disappear," he shares.