"Impression Collections 8036" Drawing

I started drawing before I could even walk. Without access to proper art supplies, I turned to my mother’s lipsticks as paint and her closet doors as my first canvas. I was drawn to the highest, most unreachable spots—climbing drawers just to reach them. To my surprise, my mother never scolded me. Instead, she encouraged my curiosity and became my very first supporter.
From a young age, I found joy in quiet observation. While other kindergarten children played games, I would wander into the school garden, captivated by the way sunlight cast delicate shadows across plants, chairs, swings, and grass. I stood for long moments feeling the breeze on my skin as leaves danced and blades of grass swayed, thinking how beautiful and peaceful it all was—and how much I wanted to capture that feeling forever through drawing and painting.
Many people today are surprised to learn I was extremely shy growing up. I spent most of my time alone, rarely speaking to anyone, even family. Social interaction felt exhausting, but being alone never bothered me. I could draw for hours, forgetting food and water until exhaustion set in—something that deeply worried my parents.
To help balance my intense focus, my mother encouraged sports. She found me coaches for Tae Kwon Do and basketball, while my father taught me to swim. These experiences taught me teamwork and collaboration—skills that felt foreign at first but would later prove invaluable to my artistic journey.
I attended the prestigious Shanghai Theater Academy, widely regarded as China’s leading art school. After a year immersed in visual arts, I became captivated by filmmaking. I came to understand that movies are a collaborative art form, much like a sports team. For the first time, I actively wanted to work with others. As First Assistant Director on two feature films in Beijing, I was thrust into a world of constant communication and teamwork. It was challenging, but deeply rewarding.
Every conversation opened new doors. Speaking with others expanded my perspective and transformed how I approached and expressed my art.
In 2010, I received my first major commission: a large mural for the Shanghai World Expo centered on the theme of peace and love. During this period, I also created around twenty stage designs for theater productions, including Sweeney Todd, The Lion King, and Cats, while continuing my personal work in oil and acrylic painting—primarily portraits and landscapes.