A young Chinese artist became an overnight sensation when she presented a stunning contemporary adaptation of an ancient painting on a popular television show last weekend.
Photo by Ye Luying
The hit variety show National Treasure, which aired on China Central Television, introduced the ancient Chinese painting “Nymph of the Luo River” by Gu Kaizhi of the East Jin Dynasty (317-420) at the same time as Ye Luying's modern version in her picture book.
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A picture from Ye Luying's picture book "Nymph of the Luo River." /Photo by Ye Luying
Ye Luying (L) and Chen Xiao, Chinese actor, appear at the variety show "National Treasure". /Photo via Ye Luying
The Song copy of Gu Kaizhi's painting "Nymph of the Luo River." /Photo via Liaoning Provincial Museum
A picture from Ye Luying's picture book "Nymph of the Luo River." /Photo by Ye Luying
A picture from Ye Luying's picture book "Nymph of the Luo River". /Photo by Ye Luying
A Ye Luying painting. /Photo by Ye Luying
Her own cartoon-style “Nymph of the Luo River” amazed the audience along with the exhibited Song copy of Gu’s painting recommended by the Liaoning Provincial Museum. Many say that she perfectly combines the traditional art with modern features and has brought high-end art closer to ordinary people.
A picture from Ye Luying's picture book "Nymph of the Luo River." /Photo by Ye Luying
Gu’s painting was an inspired illustration of an essay written by Cao Zhi, a poet of China’s Three Kingdoms period (220-280), in which he depicted his imagined romantic encounter and separation with the Nymph of the Luo River.
A talented calligrapher and painter, Gu Kaizhi is also known for his theories in Chinese painting that laid foundations for its new development, especially his emphasis on the eyes of the figures.
“The eyes were the spirit and the decisive factor in figure paintings,” Gu wrote down in his theoretical works.
Ye Luying (L) and Chen Xiao, Chinese actor, appear at the variety show "National Treasure". /Photo via Ye Luying
Ye Luying, 25, is one of the generation dubbed the “post-90s,” a reference to those who were born in the 1990s. After graduating from the Chinese Academy of Art and studying abroad, she now works as a teacher at the academy.
While overseas she came to the conclusion that the country’s 5,000-year cultural heritage is rooted in her spirit.
“I was so impressed by the Norse mythology that I couldn’t help wondering 'do we have such stories in China, and what are the aesthetic symbols of the Chinese',” said Ye.
The Song copy of Gu Kaizhi's painting "Nymph of the Luo River." /Photo via Liaoning Provincial Museum
She started to immerse herself in libraries after returning to her hometown in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang Province, until she came across with the Nymph of the Luo River again after graduation.
She said she was inspired not only by Gu Kaizhi’s painting, but also his theories of comparing lines in painting to silk. Cao Zhi’s depiction of the nymph in his essay has also provided her with numerous ideas.
From then on, Ye has dug deeper into the ancient Chinese literature and culture and was amazed by what she found out.
A picture from Ye Luying's picture book "Nymph of the Luo River." /Photo by Ye Luying
“The Chinese culture, with its long history and profound contents, is like a huge treasure to me. It has nourished my works and would continue to do so in my entire career life,” Ye said at the variety show. “I want to share the Oriental beauty with everyone.”
She spent half a year painting her picture book, which was based on the ancestors’ works but invigorated with her wild imagination.
The Song copy of Gu’s painting was 6.4 meters in length, and Ye’s manuscript is about 11 meters in general. She completed a large part of her painting on the computer.
A picture from Ye Luying's picture book "Nymph of the Luo River". /Photo by Ye Luying
“The computer has its advantage. For example, the colors would be more saturated, refreshing and are capable of presenting more layers of changes,” said Ye. “It’s an era of rapid development, with the technology leaping forward.
“New elements should be infused into the classic artistic works.”
Her picture book has become a rising star in the field of fine art, and has grabbed a handful of domestic awards. It was also exhibited at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
A Ye Luying painting. /Photo by Ye Luying
Dong Baohou, painter and researcher of the Liaoning Provincial Museum, speaks highly of Ye’s painting.
“The ‘Nymph of the Luo River’ is an important piece of work in the Chinese history of art, but it is still far away from the public. Ye has inherited the classical beauty from the ancient painting, and expressed it in a modern way, which is great,” said Dong.
Ye’s picture book is scheduled to be published in April.
BALI, Indonesia (AP) — Ketut Nita Wahyuni lifts her folded hands prayerfully to her forehead as a priest leads the temple gathering. The 11-year-old is preparing to perform the Rejang Dewa, a sacred Balinese dance.
The rituals are part of the two-week-long Ngusaba Goreng, a thanksgiving festival for a rich harvest. “Ngusaba” means gathering of the gods and goddesses.
There are various forms of rejang performed during different occasions and rituals in Bali. Wahyuni and her friends have an important role during the festival. Rejang Dewa and Rejang Pucuk, performed on two separate days, are reserved only for girls who have not yet attained puberty.
“Being a rejang started when she lost her tooth until pre-puberty. We believe they are still pure to present dance to God during this time,” her father Nyoman Subrata says.
As traditional chief of Geriana Kauh village, Subrata says he is proud to see his daughter participating in this ritual. Subrata is committed to the responsibilities of maintaining religious traditions that have passed down through generations.
Balinese Hinduism brings together Hindu philosophy and local animist traditions with some Buddhist influence. It is a way of life, building a connection between the people, their heritage, and the divine.
A day later, Wahyuni’s mother Kadek Krisni has picked fresh flowers from their garden and prepared an elaborate headdress while her daughter was in school. Today is Rejang Pucuk day, one of the most sacred forms of Rejang. It was routine as usual in the morning. The latter half of the day will be spent in the temple. This is life in Bali.
Krisni says she participated in the same rituals as a child and is “happy there there is someone in the family continuing the ritual.”
There is apparent pride even in someone as young as Wahyuni in offering her service to the temple. Her friends are also part of the group and there is excitement as they share their experiences.
“I also learn how to apply makeup,” she says with a smile.
But despite the strong roots, there is also a fear for these traditions' place in the future. Subrata expresses concern that the younger generation is opting to leave the village for the city or overseas in search of work. He stresses the importance of being pragmatic and finding ways to maintain the Balinese traditional heritage without it being an impediment to the economic growth of the people.
“It is natural when they grow up and make their own choices, but I hope they don’t forget the place where they were born and their cultural traditions," he says.
Nyoman Subrata, traditional chief of Geriana Kauh village, thanks villagers for participating in Ngusaba Goreng at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
A Hindu priest in trance points keris, traditional dagger, on his chest during a Hindu ceremony at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni, left, participates in Rejang Pucuk at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni, second left, stands with her friends as they participate in Rejang Pucuk in at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni is dressed up to participate in Rejang Pucuk Hindu ritual ceremony at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni is dressed up to participate in Rejang Pucuk Hindu ritual ceremony at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni, 11, looks at her phone with her father Nyoman Subrata sitting beside her, as mother Kadek Krisni, right, and sister Intan Wahyuni, in blue, dresses up her cousin Rina Lestianti before the Rejang Pucuk Hindu rituals at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Intan Wahyuni applies makeup for her younger sister Ketut Nita Wahyuni, 11, before participating in Rejang Pucuk Hindu rituals at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Sari gives an offering during Ngusaba Goreng, a thanksgiving festival for a rich harvest, at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Nyoman Subrata, traditional chief of Geriana Kauh village, carries a rooster used in rituals for Ngusaba Goreng festival at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Kadek Krisni, left, tries on a headgear for size on her daughter Kadek Nita Wahyuni in preparation for a Hindu ritual at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni, second right, sits in her classroom in Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni, 11, prepares for school at her home in Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Kadek Krisni prepares a headgear for her daughter to participate in Rejang Pucuk at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Kadek Krisni picks flower to prepare a headgear for her daughter for a Hindu ceremony at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni, 11, performs the Rehang Dewa, a sacred Balinese dance, at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni, 11, centre, performs the Rehang Dewa, a sacred Balinese dance, at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Kadek Krisni fixes an incense stick on the headgear of her daughter Ketut Nita Wahyuni, 11, before a Hindu ritual at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Kadek Krisni, left, walks with her daughter Ketut Nita Wahyuni, 11, to participate in a Hindu ceremony at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Ketut Nita Wahyuni, 11, prays as she perform a Hindu ritual at Geriana Kauh village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
