What do you call a sportsman-turn-artist? Gregory Burns.

The 55-year-old American athlete competed in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Paralympic Games as a member of the US Paralympics Swimming Team, winning five gold and silver medals while breaking four world records.

His artistic side is manifested in an exhibition at Shanghai's Riverside Art Center, where he presents three series painted in Shanghai since 2007.

For the past 30 years, Burns has lived in various parts of Asia and traveled extensively. His art works are often inspired by the landscape and culture that he experienced in such countries as China, Singapore and India.

Burns describes his recent paintings as "abstract impressionism". He says audience sometimes complaint that they don't understand pure abstract art. Through his art, Burns hopes to convey stories or ideas to inspire people to think.

Just as he started sports training since young, he has been exposed to art as a child. "I've been painting all my life, and never thought of it as business or career," Burns tells China Daily.

Only when he was in his 40s did he decide to become a professional artist. Since then, his works have been widely exhibited in China, the US, Singapore and other countries.

Burns contracted polio when he was 1 year old and since then, he has been on crutches and leg-braces.

He came to Taiwan in 1984, and spent the next few years backpacking in the Chinese mainland and many other parts of Asia. Many of his paintings depicted sacred sites that he visited, including Buddhist statues, temples and the Great Wall.

In the past few years, Burns has been doing the Ironman Triathlon, which consists of 3.8-kilometer swimming, 180-kilometer cycling and a full-length marathon of 42 kilometers.

"I've done so much sports in my life, and now I want to put the same energy in art," he says.

Burns will give a multi-media presentation on his artistic journey and experience as a Paralympian on Oct 13 at 4 pm.

zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/23/2012 page15)