While the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic is still severe, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, implements online teaching and the construction of online teaching resource platforms. As a creative practice course of the Department of Sculpture, “Creative Composition Training” has been adjusted in a timely manner under the collective efforts of the teaching guarantee group of the Department of Sculpture. Focusing on the online theory teaching in the Rain Classroom, teaching, exchanges, and creative practices are conducted by using Tencent Meeting, WeChat Group Chats and other tools.

The thematic creation this time is on the theme of "Novel Heroes". Students use the knowledge of composition training to create, expressing their real feelings about the current epidemic, and completing a special "Cloud Creative Activity" online.

"Creative Composition Training" 

Instructor: Ma Wenjia

Target students: Graduate students of the Department of Sculpture

"Creative Composition Training" is the basic course of the "Digital Technology and Sculpture Creation Project in Space Environment" for graduate students of the Department of Sculpture of the Academy of Arts & Design. The duration of the course is 1-6 weeks. The course consists of three parts: concrete composition training, abstract composition training and conceptual composition training. 

The early stage of concrete composition training will focus on theoretical teaching, analysis of the visual language foundation, and the study of points, lines, planes and various modeling elements of visual language. Teaching contents will be gradually deepened from two-dimensional plane composition and three-dimensional composition to sculpture composition. In the sculpture composition, classical visual cases will be analyzed, the human visual experience will be studied, and the constituent elements will be analyzed. 

Practices in the early stage will start from sketching, and thematic creation will be carried out after the students’ understanding of the theory is deepened on the basis of gradual in-depth training.

Students' Works

"Waiting for You to Return" by Zhang Yunfang

The epidemic has separated us. But don't be afraid. My heart is always with you.

"Rotating Work" by Feng Shihua

He is exhausted with sweat streaming down his back after saving people’s lives for hours. He has returned to have a little rest to carry on the heavy responsibilities. Such rotation will last several days and many times, but they courageously move forward...

"Novel Heroes" by Liu Shengjia

In the work, the two medical workers bend over and stand shoulder to shoulder, showing a heroic and fearless attitude of sacrificing themselves for the people. The central position of the composition portrays a child moving forward toward light, who will rekindle hope!

"Novel Heroes" by Xia Wan

This work expresses gratitude to brave people who overcome fear to fight at the frontline of the epidemic!

"Novel Heroes" by Yang Haopeng

Based on the fully armed epidemic prevention workers with warning postures, this work presents all ordinary people who rush to the front line regardless of risks.

"Race with Time" by Zhang Dong

This work captures the moment of getting prepared for the battlefield, showing the anxiety of the medical staff, as if racing with time. This work highlights the struggle and greatness of the Novel Heroes. The bodies in the sculpture are formed into an oblique extension line to enhance the dynamic feeling, but they are still getting ready, not yet at work, leaving a space for imagination. The powerful limbs and the runway-like base form the balance of the overall visual relationship of the sculpture.

"Before Leaving for Battlefield" by Zhang Dong

A forward-looking doctor is ready to enter the battlefield, while a backward-looking doctor helps him put on protective clothing. The "forces" in the two directions of the sculpture have a strong momentum, and are closely linked through the actions of wearing protective clothing, forming an "inverted A-shaped" composition to show the concerted efforts in the performance of their duties amidst tension. The tilted base is like a forward tool cart. This sculpture captures a tender moment of a doctor about to enter the battlefield.

Source: Ma Wenjia, Associate Professor, Department of Sculpture

Editor:Zhao Ruohan

Graphic Designer: Feng Jiaqi