Dough Models (1956)

Olympia, London. C/U shot of a hand unveiling a ’dough modelling kit’. It consists of several, different in colour, dough sausages and several modelling ’knives’. It all sits in wooden box, ready to use. C/U shot of man’s hands pinching pieces of different dough sausages and attaching them to approximately 4 to 5 inches long wooden stick. C/U of the face of the man as he works. Craftsman is Lang Shao An, a dough modelling artist from China. He started when he was 14 years old and has been doing it for over 30 years. Figurines he makes are similar size and look as porcelain ones but can unfortunately last for only 10 years (still, impressive knowing that it’s only a bit of water and flour). C/U shot of hands shaping a little head on top of the stick. Several shots of Mr Lang Shao An “by the way, in Chinese the surname comes first“ creating the figure of a child. No detail has been omitted, not even shoelaces. It is fascinating how simple it looks to make it, knowing how difficult it really is. Great