Cutting Through Mountains to Bring in Water was created during the energetic climate of the Great Leap Forward from 1958 to 1959. Nothing could affect my mood. At the time, “I’m Coming” was a popular folk song, which went: “There is no Jade Emperor! I am the Dragon King! I shout and the Mountains make way. I’m coming!” Inspired, I sculpted a man leaping from between two mountains. At the time, the traditional view at the Central Academy of Fine Arts was that sculptures should not represent environments; they should be focused on the figure. Pieces like Rodin’s The Thinker were considered true sculpture. However, I boldly broke with this convention. 

Liu Shiming