IN SIGHT
Master Xie Tianhong incorporates a life of contemplation into paintings that are exhibited, sold and admired all over the world
MAXMILIAN WECHSLER
The works of Chinese-born painter Professor Xie Tianhong are praised and respected in his native country and throughout the world, kept at art institutes and museums, presidential palaces and the private collections of celebrities, dignitaries and world leaders. He is happily living in comfort and honour in Thailand, his adopted second home.
"I visited Thailand for the first time as a traveller in 1993 and a few times afterwards. In 2000 I decided to live in this country permanently for several reasons. First, I love the Thai people because they are so generous and warm. Secondly, I am a devoted Buddhist as are the majority of Thais. Thirdly, I like the warm climate because it is good for my health."
The master painter is a humble person who doesn't seek fame or great wealth from his talent. He desires to help the needy, especially poor children. Among his main goals is to contribute by his works to the friendship between the people of Thailand and the People's Republic of China.
Though he prefers to work in solitude, at his latest exhibition held at Siam Paragon Shopping Centre in Bangkok last month he succumbed to this interviewer's request and displayed his talents right there at the venue before a group of admirers.
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| Professor Xie displaying his artistic skill at an exhibition at Siam Paragon Shopping Centre recently. |
To observe him painting was a rare opportunity and a memorable experience. His quick strokes across the canvas revealed within a few minutes the superb image of a bamboo tree, a recurring theme in his paintings.
Master Xie is a prolific artist, having produced around 3,500 finished works since his first exhibition at the Cultural Palace at Pingdingstan City in China's Henan province in 1986, where he was presented with an Excellent Young Painter award by the General Trade Union.
Since then his creations have been exhibited all over the world, including in Canada, France, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States. In New York in 1995, two of his works titled "Peace" and "Spring Scenery in Four Seasons" were acquired by Bill Clinton, who was the US president at the time.
Hillary Clinton bought several additional paintings in Chiang Mai during a visit to Thailand with her husband in November 1996. In the same year, former French President Jacques Chirac publicly praised Xie Tianhong and bought many of his paintings as well.
Former Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai is the owner of a 2004 painting by Master Xie vividly named "Thousands of Mountains Thoroughly in Red".
Among other Thai purchasers of Master Xie's work are fomer defence minister and Army commander-in-chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro, who acquired in 2007 the painting "The Invincible Might Reaches the Vault of Heaven."
Master Xie has held several exhibitions in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. The Siam Paragon exhibition from May 13 to 31 was in celebration of the 80th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The event also coincided with the birthday of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and on this occasion Master Xie dedicated to the Princess a painting depicting peacocks and peonies, titled: "A Pleasant and Auspicious Future will Embrace Thailand and China."
He described the painting: "The blue-green peacocks are drawn with gold and platinum powder. The peacocks stand proudly on a rock and look straightly forward; the peonies, the national flower of China, are in full bloom to usher in a beautiful spring, which signifies Thailand and China in prosperous times in a bright future. One peacock and one peahen stand side by side showing off their beauty in a competitive way. The peacock's tail is spread wide, implying that Thailand and China will enjoy a prosperous time and their people live in peace and good fortune."
During the opening ceremony Master Xie donated 200,000 baht to a charity funds under the patronage of HRH Princess Sirindhorn.
Among supporters of the exhibition was the Embassy of the People's Republic of China. Dr Zhang Jiuhuan, the Chinese ambassador to Thailand, also visited the exhibition. The ambassador is a devoted patron of the arts and has taken a particular liking to Professor Xie.
Last April, at the invitation of the ambassador, Master Xie created for the Chinese Embassy a large painting encompassing multiple styles. The landscape, figure, and ink bamboo creation was titled "Seven Virtuous Gentlemen Gathering in the Bamboo Forest." The ambassador was so attracted by this painting that he improvised a poem on it and described the artist as "masterful and versatile."
A total of 89 paintings were displayed among his works of the past 20 years. These included a wide variety of types and styles - traditional Chinese oils and watercolours, pieces with fine brushwork and freehand brushworks, etc.
In touch with two worlds
Typically attired in red or a long white Chinese coat, Master Xie stays in close touch with his family and homeland, phoning often and returning two or three times a year. He was born to a poor but scholarly family in Henan province, where his parents served as low-ranking government officials. His brother and sister were also born with artistic talents. The brother, who is also a painter, now lives in France. His sister passed away many years ago.
As a child Master Xie displayed a keen intelligence and a strong passion for calligraphy and painting which surfaced when he was only three years old.
He now lives in a modest house in Rangsit district near Bangkok, where he works and meditates. He speaks Thai reasonably well and loves Thai food.
He has many Thai friends from all walks of life - high-ranking officials, business people and ordinary citizens. He also counts a number of Chinese and European expatriates as friends.
"I know many Chinese artists here, and some Thai artists as well, but not so closely," Mr Xie remarked.
"Before I settled in Thailand," he said, "I've sold my paintings all over the world, but right now I am selling only at my exhibitions in Thailand, both to locals and foreigners."
Master Xie was frequently on hand during the exhibition. His demeanor displayed an attractive blend of natural humility and pride in his talent. He was usually sitting quietly in a chair, quietly observing the people walking past. He smiled at anyone who approached him, but appeared not to be a big talker. Very often he sat with crossed legs, meditating. Sometimes he went to buy Thai newspapers, which he admitted to be keen on reading even though he is still at the beginner's stage.
Ms Rattawan, a Thai businesswoman who met him only a few weeks ago, described him as a quiet person who doesn't like to have too many people around.
"He is much older than I am but he talks to me with respect. He is very funny, kind and generous and always interested in the lives of other people he meets. He is a devoted Buddhist. He is different from other people that I know," she said.
Mr Zhu, a Chinese man with a business in Bangkok who has known the painter for four years said: "Professor Xie is a person who will always help his friends. He is also very easy to get on with. He's quiet, humble and likes to stay alone. He appears to be relaxed and not to worry about things. He also donates a lot of money to charities."
Another Chinese businessman, Mr Chen, who met him about a year ago says that Master Xie always talks in a positive way and doesn't complain. He is knowledgeable about Chinese literature and traditions and has a deep understanding of Buddhism. He incorporates this into his paintings, which is what makes them so unique.
While he is painting - which can be anywhere, not only in his house - he listens to the chanting of Chinese Buddhist monks to make him relax and give him inspiration.
He loves to paint tigers, to express their emotion, love, sadness, kindness and so on. At Wuhan Zoo in China's Hubei province, he often sat beside the mountain where the tigers played, observing them closely and learning about their activities, habits and behaviour to allow him to transfer their essence to his paintings.
When Master Xie was invited to give lectures in Canada in 1993, he travelled to a large zoo about four hours' drive from Vancouver where some tigers were kept. He stayed in the vicinity and photographed the animals, and also collected a lot of first-hand information.
Master Xie normally begins work in the evening and continues for around 10 hours. He says he may open a website soon and also has plans to establish a permanent gallery in Thailand.
Published books with Master Xie's artwork include Best Water Color Paintings of Xie Tianhong, Best Water Color Animal Paintings of Xie Tianhong, and a joint project with fellow Chinese artist Zhuang Liwen.
The painter says that he now has enough money for himself and will from now on donate all the proceeds from the sales of his paintings to Buddhist foundations and foundations involved with helping poor children in Thailand.
He also plans to construct a special place where anyone can go to meditate, most likely on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok.
Besides working and meditating, Master Xie spends his time mostly in reading and travel.
BIO DATA
Professor Xie Tianhong was born on July 23, 1960 at Xiangcheng county of Henan province of the People's Republic of China. He didn't go to school but was taught by his grandfather at home.
Master Xie learned to paint landscape, animals, flowers, birds and figures from his tutors Sheng Beidou and Li Mingfu when he was 8 years old.
At the age of 16, he left his hometown to make a living by selling his paintings throughout China. He was admitted into the Wuhan Painting Academy in 1977 and was conferred a professorship there in 1988.
In 1991 he established the first-in-town art museum in China, the Shenzhen Longhua Arts Gallery.
Master Xie sojourned to Thailand and established the Tianhong Institute of Calligraphy and Painting in 1995. In the same year he was appointed Professor and Adviser of the International Cultural Centre of Ramkhamhaeng University.
In 1996 he was appointed Directing Executive Chairman of the Exchange Centre of Thailand's International Culture and Arts.
He holds a number of other professional titles, including Vice-Chairman of the World Painters and Calligraphers' Association (headquartered in Canada), Standing Art Adviser to the League of Thai and Chinese Artists and Professor and Adviser of International Cultural Exchange Centre of Ramkhamhaeng University.
Professor Xie Tianhong is single.
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