26/04/2025
Every spring, as the snow melts and the air warms, I return to the mountains of Sichuan — to places like Yiga Village in Sichuan region. The altitude and remoteness make it impossible to reach in winter, but once spring arrives, the mountains open their arms again.
Painting here is not just a creative act, it is a conversation with history, tradition, and identity. Meeting locals like Jiniu Yigan, who graciously posed in his traditional Yi attire, reminds me how important it is to preserve these living cultures through art. Every brushstroke is an attempt to hold onto stories that risk being forgotten.
There is an unmatched peace in painting outdoors, surrounded by stone walls, winding paths, and the distant hum of mountain wind. It's a reminder that the artist’s work is not only to create — but also to record, to remember, and to honor.
Thank you to my model of the day Jiniu Yigan. Thanks for his patience because actually it was not painted in just a day. He had ton pose patiently for a few days.
