Painter's work is off the wall

In 2020, a painting, 4 meters high and 40 meters long, appeared in the subway station of Guomao, in Beijing's Central Business District. The painting, by Wen Na, features over 60 characters of various images resembling traditional Chinese gods. Titled Picture of Gods Going to Work, the painting, with its humorous concept and bright, vibrant colors, received positive feedback from the busy commuters.

For Wen Na, one of the best parts of creating those paintings in public spaces is "when you see people engaging with the mural and taking photos".

The artist also released a book, titled Wen Na Jing, or the works of Wen Na, which records the imaginative characters she has created over the years. Each of the characters has his or her own name as well as a story coming along with it.

"I am not an expert of traditional Chinese culture. But those elements appear in my head when I start to paint," says Wen Na, elaborating her unique style based on traditional Chinese culture.

"I guess that it's because I grew up with it and it's in my blood," she says, adding that those characters come alive through different art forms, like mural paintings and sculptures. "It's always fun to paint. I enjoy the freedom when I start to paint."

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn