Recording the Romantic Realistic Scenery of My Hometown Through Light and Shadow
The inspiration for my "Flaming Mountain" series comes from my childhood. I often rode my bicycle up the mountain to explore, frequently reaching the Carp Pond area where a reservoir was being built. Along the way, I passed through the pristine Flaming Mountain. Back then, the only path was a rocky trail created by landslides. The area was sparsely populated, and the air was incredibly fresh. Birds flew across the mountain, and the clear streams teemed with fish. The light changed colors from morning till night, and I especially loved the colors of the light near dusk. The exposed, collapsed rocks had rough textures, and the vast riverbed of the Da'an River was layered with pebbles. The mountain's reflection shone like a mirror in the water, and the collapsed Flaming Mountain appeared distinctly near and far in the air. These natural light and shadow effects have always left a deep impression on me, providing unforgettable spiritual experiences and nourishment—a source of inspiration for my growth.
The work does not pursue complete realism in technique. During the painting process, there is a kind of overlapping and misplaced brushstrokes that cannot be distinguished by the order of time. If the picture is not satisfactory, it will be covered up and started over! But it is possible that no details will be painted, or the previously completed tones will be partially covered and partially revealed. This makes the texture and brushstrokes of the picture seem like the accumulation of time. It seems to be completed but is also destroyed. It is like the imagery of the picture accumulated by time. Sometimes it is bold and unrestrained, and sometimes it is meticulously depicted. I feel that I am immersed in the sensory interest of the light and shadow atmosphere of the fiery mountain.