River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

Spring is coming, and the migrant birds on the lower left of the painting have returned. The river depicted in the painting is called the Tongtian River, which literally translates into English as “the river up to the sky or paradise”, hence the name of the painting. With a total width of 800 kilometers, the Tongtian River winds through the valleys between the Tanggula Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains. Relatively inaccessible, the upper reaches of the Tongtian River have remained virtually unperturbed by human activities and are still the most un-spoilt regions of the Yangtze areas. However, recent years have seen a worsening degeneration and desertification of the grassland. A sand dune strip of nearly 40 km has been spotted in the upper reaches of the Tongtian River. From Tongtian River estuary to Qidukou in Qumalar, the river flows for 400 km at an elevation of above 4,000 meters. Until fifty years ago, this area had had no human habitation and had been called an uninhabited area of 800 kilometer.

Wang Yi Guang is at the forefront of the Chinese contemporary art scene. His passion for painting followed in the footsteps of his older brother and pursued his ultimate desire to become a painter. The painting above (River of Paradise) was part of Wang’s first solo exhibition Retrospective of Tibet - The Spirit and Movement (shown in Dec, 2004). This series (in part) was inspired by the humble beauty of the Tibetan plateau along with Tibetan way of life, their respect for the environment and nature, as well as their optimistic approach to life. have provided an infinite source of inspiration to his body of work.

According to the press-release of this show, Wang’s fond memories of Tibet - particularly catching sight of young girls running and laughing across the magnificent Tibetan plains, their sheep and cattle in tow - remind the artist that Feitain (or flying Devi, a mystical character, which is primarily found in the murals at Dunhuang and in sculptural forms in a handful of cave grottoes in China) does exist in life.

Since graduating from the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, Wang has participated in various national and international exhibitions, in addition to a number of art fairs in Beijing, Guangzhou, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Wang Yi Guang currently works as a creative designer for the China Railway Construction Corporation.

More of Wang Yi Guang’s dream-like paintings can be seen following the jump.

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004

River to Paradise, O/C, 130 x 140 cm, 2004