TIAN LIMING (B. 1955)

The title of Tian Liming's first major solo exhibition Light Air Water aptly captures the essence of his art. Tian sees his own daily life as the inspiration of his art, and his brush follows the inner beauty that he discovers from the ordinary. Whether picturing a collective activity such as group photo-taking as seen in Childhood or a female portrait such as Urban Girl, Tian's paintings give a breath of fresh air to the traditional genre of figure painting. Full of pastel colours and light, these scenes of mundane life are instilled with optimism and freshness. Tian once mentioned how by accidentally dripping water onto a paper with a brush he created an effect of light and translucency. This special technique blends the colours together to form perfectly harmonious compositions. It is through such harmony that Tian expresses his attitude toward man's relationship with nature and a tranquil spiritual experience that he wishes his viewers to enjoy.