In Canada, my family always bring a kerosene lantern to go camping or to enjoy wild life at night. The light of the lantern brought many memories back to me from China. When I was seventeen years old, I was sent to the countryside for four years like millions of others. We were far away from our homes, everyday we worked hard in the fields from sunrise to sunset without knowing when we would be able to leave. It was a difficult time for me. But it was a valuable education and experience. I started to understand the real meaning of life and I started to do my art. I was closer to the people, nature and myself.
Kerosene Lantern 1995 charcoal on canvas 36 x 36 inches DFG# 707-373
The kerosene lantern has accompanied me through four years in the countryside. I did over twenty sketch books under the light of the lantern. In these books, there was isolation, melancholy, thinking and hope. Also there were many people whom I loved and worked with; there were many places and landscapes which I had worked on. I have many memories about them and about the change of myself.

[ Back ]     [ Top ]     [ Forward ]