Artworks explore legacy of the Yongding River

"I once heard the story of the Yongding River — it used to be violent. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the river was tamed following the building of dikes, and was bestowed with the name Yongding, meaning everlasting peace," says artist Zheng Qinyan. People's longing for eternal calmness inspired her to create a series of artworks examining the relationship between human society, water, and the surrounding world.

Zheng, a professor of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, is now exhibiting these works at Perpetual Serenity and Stability, on the seventh and eighth floors of the Yongding Pagoda, a landmark in the Beijing Garden Expo Park that was constructed in the Liao (916-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties.

The exhibition runs until Oct 10. It shows how she has transformed characters into imagery of human figures, lotus flowers and clouds, and carries her reflections on life and heritage.