Simple yet colorful

Li Zijian's portraits of grandmothers capture the details and kindness of ordinary people. Provided to China Daily

Ordinary people come alive under the brush of artist Li Zijian, whose oil paintings focus on love and humanity. Deng Zhangyu reports.

US-based artist Li Zijian has made it his life vocation to depict ordinary people and explore the humanity underneath in his works. His oil paintings have always focused on a single theme: love and humanity. People from all walks of life - gray-haired grandmothers, young children playing along rivers, pregnant mothers and vagrant Americans - come alive under his brush.

"All of my works form a well-organized body," says the 58-year-old artist. "It has various categories. Each category has its own voice, just like actors of a drama. Every actor has his role in the play. But when they play together, it becomes a fantastic drama."

Since 1993, Li has been touring the world with his works, stepping on the soil of more than 30 countries and regions. His paintings have been displayed in cities across the world, such as London, Paris, New York, Jakarta, Cape Town and Lima.

"I'm always on the road to explore new places. I enjoy painting while traveling," says Li.

Whenever Li arrives in a new city, he goes around taking pictures first. He usually stays in hotels for days, immersing himself into the arts scene of the city.

In the past three years of holding exhibitions in 23 cities in China, Li has also produced about 100 oil paintings. He displayed all 269 of his masterpieces at his recent exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing. It's the last stop of his homeland tour exhibition.

An artist's works reflect his inner mind, Li says. That's how it is with his works.

"I hope people can be touched by the goodness of my paintings. They can see it and feel it. Just like what Buddhism advocates, to serve people with kindness," says Li.