Shanghai Daily News

Wang Yi, an internationally acclaimed artist and a government official, is spreading an appreciation for traditional art within Jiading District. 

Wang Yi was born to be a painter. He is now one of the most promising ink based painters in Shanghai. His works are being auctioned for steadily increasing prices and his art is often taken abroad by state leaders as gifts.

As a government official, Wang has spread the tradition of ink painting and carving, increasing its popularity among the younger generation of Jiading District. Painting has proved to be a recurring element of every part of Wang's life.

Wang was born in the district in 1959. His father was a keen painter, who led Wang to pick up a brush at the age of eight. It was this early influence that fueled Wang's passion for art. After only two years of painting, Wang had already greatly developed his talent and techniques.

Wang then went on to study under local experts, such as Su Chunsheng, Lu Yanshao and Song Wenzhi.

Wang practiced his art with commitment and diligence and even now he still spends seven hours a day painting when he finishes work, staying in front of the canvas from 6pm to 1am.

Wang has featured in local culture showcases since 1985. Throughout the 10 years he worked in cultural showcases, Wang visited thousands mountains across China, including many in Tibet, Xinjiang and Yunnan. These mountains have proved to be a major creative inspiration for Wang.

"Traveling can enlarge one's horizons and helps in getting to know different cultures. The most important part of traveling is that traveling can bring many sudden inspirations to my painting. A painter shouldn't just paint natural scenery, but should also express his ideas of peace and harmony," said Wang.

Wang has traveled around the country and visited many small counties and villages to find painting materials.

Some provinces, such as Zhejiang, had such an impact on Wang that he has visited them more than 100 times.

His works have won more than 50 state prizes since 1986. Many of his works are auctioned off and collected. Wang's most expensive piece went for 110,000 yuan (US$13,580) last year.

Some of Wang's paintings have been taken abroad by state leaders as a gift to other leaders. Wang has said that it makes him very proud that his works were taken as a symbol of Chinese culture.

Wang has also had solo exhibitions in both Japan and Singapore twice and took part in the "Sino-America famous painters painting show" in 2002.

"I'm lucky enough that my works can be appreciated by people locally and abroad," said Wang proudly.

Wang is now the vice director of the Jiading Administration Bureau of Culture Radio & TV. He has been working for the government for 10 years and is making efforts to spread culture to local residents.

"Some of my friends prefer to play poker and go to the pub. They're not good hobbies. So I often asked them to visit my house to see my paintings and I explained the meanings to them. Gradually, they grew to like it and some began going to exhibitions in their leisure time."

"I'm a full time painter but a 'part-time' government official. I like painting very much. It is the one hobby I have had in my life. I plan to do the job for another three or four years, and then I will put my full heart into painting. I want to make painting a wide-spread Chinese tradition," said Wang finally.