Radio Taiwan International
Date: 19 September, 2019
By: Paula Chao
Taiwanese pencil carving artist Lee Chien-chu is a rising star in the world of miniature carving. Lee's creativity, attention to detail, and lifelike execution has won him fame at home and abroad in recent years.
An environmental engineer by training, Lee started working with bamboo chopsticks before adopting pencils as his chosen medium. But what exactly got an environment engineer like him interested in carving to begin with?
Lee Chien-chu is a self-taught wonder. His artistic creations include a sculpture featuring two hearts pierced with an arrow, as well as sculptures of Disney characters like Mickey Mouse. All of these works are carved out of ordinary pencils. Lee has been working on pencil carving for nine years. His works aren't just technically impressive- they also give viewers something to think about. For example, the word "Love" inscribed into the front of one of his pieces transforms into the the word "Hate" on the back side.
It was fatherly love that first drew Lee to pencil carving. He said his children love playing with action figurines. However, only some of the figures are sold with toy weapons. To even the playing field for his children's mock battles, Lee decided to start making toy weapons of his own and to give them to the defenseless, unarmed figures. [FULL STORY]