Artist sets new Guinness record with longest pyrograph work

Chen Haoyun, an artist from Central China's Henan province, recently set the Guinness World Records for painting the longest pyrograph work, a traditional folk art in the country. On May 27, Chen was awarded the certificate.

With a length of 32.89 meters and a width of 0.781 meters, the pyrograph titled A Hundred Tigers covers an area of 25.687 square meters, depicting 99 tigers hidden in the spectacular landscape of China.

The pyrograph was painted with a short slender pointed piece of heated iron, which not only includes Chinese painting techniques such as outline drawing, but also has a strong cubic effect with rich layers and hues.

Similar to lithograph work, this traditional Chinese art treasure, which is said to originate in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), maintains the national style of painting and also has the rigorous effect of Western painting.

Chen spent five years on the work. "I was really cautious in the whole process, and still felt anxious after I finished it," he said.

Chen innovated the traditional method and tools of pyrograph. He added colors on the work by dipping the iron pen into pigments from plant and minerals.

Wang Qingshan, an inheritor of an intangible cultural heritage project in the province, said Chen's pyrograph work adopts some Chinese painting techniques to show tigers' vitality, creating an artistic charm of elegance and reflecting the professional skills of the artist.

Wang Minglei, director of Xinxiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Center in Henan, said Chen's breaking of Guinness record will help the world know more about Henan's pyrograph and introduce the folk art to other parts of China and the world.