Li Ruo Xin is a talented and creative kiteflier. He has performed several original and ingenious works, receiving the recognition of colleagues from China and other foreign countries.
His creations highlight due to:
- The careful work with bamboo, which he explores and dominates at his own will.
- The kite shapes –incredible, in some cases- are a challenge in their structure design apt for flying: just look at the heart, the skull, the ying-yang…
- In some models, the best-known ones, he has stylized the design, and included movement to add gracefulness and life to his kites: the seagulls, the swallows, the phoenix, the butterfly.
- He assembles the structure with particular simplicity and creativeness.
- The motifs painted on the sails are simple; he used plain drawings and colors, unlike the traditional Chinese kites, which are profusely and exquisitely painted.
From a more personal point of view, Li Ruo Xin is a gentle, cheerful, cool guy. He enjoys meeting with friends, around a well provided table, with a variety of meals. He demonstrated special enthusiasm and kindness towards us, devoting a good deal of time to teach us and make us feel comfortable; flying kites together, inviting us to his house to explain us his works, driving us to an incredible market, and making the necessary arrangements and escorting us to visit two members of the Kong family in Beijin.
Most flights were performed at the Park of Sculptures. Li Ruo Xin lives near there. In a specially friendly gesture, he invited us to his home. There we could exchange some presents and appreciate his workplace. I’m always interested in knowing where a person carries out his creations; which elements inspire him, the sightseeing, the objects around. In this case, it was an austere apartment, where you could only find the strictly necessary elements for living. His workshop does not include many things: his computer, a working table, a chest of drawers with his tools, and a closet with supplies and the already finished works.
Li Ruo Xin worked as instrumental designer for a public technical institute, that’s why he proudly showed us the set of tools designed and built by him, to work out the bamboo and build his own kites.
He then took a piece of bamboo and, making a demonstration for us, he “opened” the bamboo into thinner sticks and showed us the sharpening, the hot bending, and the careful polishing until obtaining the exact form required in his design. Leaving aside the strictly technical handling of materials, he delivered a masterly demonstration of generosity, sharing with us his skill and experience. It is not usual to see such an attitude. Claris and me tried to absorb every indication, every movement, and Andreas’ valuable help allowed us to understand even better his explanations.
We spent the afternoon listening to his tales about his beginnings with kites, his visits to several festivals in Europe and Asia: France, India, Indonesia, Japan; about his designs. Afterwards, his wife arrived, and provided the translation, while pleasing us with her music.
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Li Ruo Xin is the author of a book with his designs, but, unfortunately, we couldn’t find it. However, he gave us a DVD with his work, which is worth watching in detail.
The day concluded with a fantastic dinner, and that happy weary feeling, after having spent a day full of activities.
Gustavo
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