Ye Luying exclusive: My paintings are deeply rooted in Chinese culture

CGTN | By Deng Junfang | 05-Oct-2020

Twenty-eight-year-old Ye Luying is undoubtedly one of the most impressive painters among the rising Chinese painters in recent years.

Her cartoon-style “Nymph of the Luo River” or “Luoshenfu” won many prizes, including the best illustration award at the 13th Golden Dragon Award for Chinese Animation held in 2016. The painting is based on the author Cao Zhi from the Wei Dynasty (220-265) and his admiration for a water goddess. In his narratives, Cao used flowery language to describe her and their sincere love. Many say that Ye perfectly combines both Western culture and eastern culture in her adaption of ancient paintings. But Ye herself doesn’t really agree. “I think my paintings are deeply rooted in my hometown and our Chinese culture. I’m a native Chinese. My paintings just look slightly Western in format,” Ye told CGTN.

Ye studied at the Chinese Academy of Art and the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in Norway. She has also traveled to over 20 countries. She said those experiences might contribute to her  mixed painting style. “Many people like me had the experience of studying abroad. We’ve not only seen Gu Kaizhi but also Michelangelo. This so-called Eastern-Western mixed style is something that comes out naturally from my mind,” she said. Over the past decade, Ye has completed several painting books based on ancient Chinese stories and calligraphy works, including the “Preface of the Orchid Pavilion” (“Lanting Xu’) and “Mulan.” Reflecting on her years of practice, Ye joked that painting itself is labor-intensive work, like climbing a mountain.

“I feel the happiest when I’m drawing drafts because I can draw whatever I want. Another moment I feel the happiest is when I finally finish a certain piece. That will give me a sense of fulfillment,”Ye told CGTN. During the interview, Ye also revealed her plan to make a piece related to cats as she is a cat-person. She also said she longs for some breakthrough in future works. “I’m more unrestrained and vigorous than what I’ve presented in my drawings. I hope I can make more imaginative work in the future. I think I’ll get the chance to do it. That’s very likely,” Ye said.

Reporter: Deng Junfang. Videographer: Shen Langlang, Deng Junfang, Video editor: Zhang Chunnan, Project manager: Deng Junfang, Producer: Si Nan, Supervisor: Zhang Shilei

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