Spiritual warrior

"I feel that these so-called inspirations are not something I own or discover, they are more like signals I receive from the world," he says.

Ren says he believes an artist should try to be as innocent and sensitive as a child, so that he doesn't become blinded by preconceptions that could block out these signals.

"An artist needs to work hard and think hard every day to keep his heart pure and open-and in turn make works that will touch others," he says.

Awed by the reflective sculptures Ren presents at Taimiao, one however can hardly imagine the work Ren has to repeat in his studio.

"The process to completing a work is not as vibrant as people think," he says. "Being an artist is similar to being a factory worker. He repeats the same thing step by step, day by day, till he finishes the work.