Spiritual warrior

One can't fully appreciate Ren's work without relating his approach to art to his study of ancient Chinese clay figurines at Buddhist and Taoist temples.

But meanwhile, Ren's sculptures represent "products of complete modern technology" with their polished, reflective surfaces made of stainless steel, excite and move the audience also because they "mirror people's dreams and hidden feelings about modern society", says Sheng Wei, a curator and art critic.

The ancient warriors Ren sculpts do not hold in their hands a metal rod as usually described in tales-Ren replaces it with a bamboo stick, a symbol of integrity in Chinese culture to soften the tone of the work and also, to convey a Zen-like touch.

And these warriors are not depicted against the backdrop of a fierce battle but instead are seen practicing tai chi or playing a wooden zither to convey a combined feeling of tranquility and inner strength.

Sheng says there are antiques, classic paintings, calligraphy works and sculptures scattered all over Ren's studio as examples of his passion for traditional culture, and he is resolved to transform his love of them into a modern context.

Ren declines to call these cultural manifestations of old traditions the inspiration for his work.