What makes an artist great?
Is it his art or the person that he is? Maybe both?
There's no universal answer, but Wang Niandong gives us a powerful example of how strength of character can directly impact excellent work; and how excellent art can elevate and add meaning to people's lives.
This was made clear to me recently, after a woman named Karin entered the gallery with her five-year old daughter, Bailey.
Part One - The Butterfly Artist and The Butterfly Girl
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A Portrait of Bailey
by Wang Niandong
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Bailey is a typical happy, healthy and curious five-year-old. Her dark brown eyes had a mischievous sparkle in them when she sat still and talked to me. What is not so typical about Bailey is that she was abandoned by her biological parents at birth and lived in a Chinese orphanage until she was two years old. Due to China's One Child Policy, Bailey is one of many girls abandoned by parents who probably wanted a boy.
A couple from California adopted Bailey from a Chinese orphanage and brought her to the US. This is from Karin, Bailey's mother, about her adoption of Bailey:
"It seemed like forever waiting in the Hotel Sofitel conference room in Hefei, Anhui. "Gotcha Day" was finally here and the most important delivery I will ever get was an hour late. My back was turned when I heard a wail. I turned and there toddled in my future, all bundled up in layers of clothing. Her cheeks were rosy red, her brown eyes wide in wonderment, and pink kewpie doll lips quivered. The crying was continuous and it was a solid week before my beautiful girl would look me straight in the eye or utter a word. Then, one day, like a metamorphosis of the butterfly from the chrysalis, she looked at me, smiled and uttered one of the most beautiful words in the universal language, 'Mama.'
I brought Bailey home on New Year's Eve of 2005. There were two New Year's Eve celebrations on the flight out of Shanghai to LA. The first one was when it turned midnight in China and I recall thinking "We are ringing out the past," and the next was New Year's Eve in LA. We rang in the new and began our life together. Of course we haven't completely rung out the past because we always wonder how the other children in the Huainan orphanage are doing. Bailey's roots will always be in China and I will always be thankful for a system that allowed for our fateful match. She is my butterfly girl getting a chance in the world."
The Butterfly Artist
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Oil Painting "Butterfly Dream"
by Wang Niandong
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For his solo exhibition at Mandarin Fine Art Gallery in 2007, Wang Niandong painted "The Butterfly Series."
He used the painful process for an ugly caterpillar to become a beautiful butterfly with wings as a symbol for reality and dreams, transformation and spirituality.
Bailey's mother Karin loves art. They fell in love with the painting "Butterfly" by Wang Niandong after learning its symbolic meaning. Karin bought the painting for Bailey.
"This painting is special to my daughter and me." said Karin "It is a gift to Bailey. I am glad she is able to grow wings and fly someday, unlike many girls that are left behind."
I was very moved by the story of Bailey's adoption and how Wang's art touched their lives. When I told the story to Wang Niandong, he was so touched he offered to do a custom portrait of Bailey, at no cost. "It is a gift for Bailey," he said. "I admire what Karin did and want to show my appreciation for kindness and goodness in people in this world".
Mandarin Fine Art Gallery is sponsoring a charity event raising funds for the victims of Sichuan earthquake. When I asked Wang about a Chinese charity organization to donate to, he was the first artist who donated a painting for the event to show his support.
Wang Niandong is 29 years old. He is one of the most talented artists that I know; but the real treasure is in his heart.
Lily Liqi Pietryka
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