“The Rainbow Mountains in China’s frontier Yunnan Province are also known as “God’s Palette” due to their intense, vivid colours.

This area of Yunnan, in the Dongchuan district, is one of the most strikingly beautiful places in the world.

Yunnan is the home of Chen Li, a master painter and woodblock printmaker whose work has been acquired and exhibited by The British Museum.”

“The characteristic forms of the mountains and landscapes of Yunnan drive me to paint.

From my early years I studied the theories of Chinese ink paintings, calligraphy, poems, drawing, and colours. From now on, I am making sure that my own feelings and perceptions help me to explore these teachings.”

“Just like writing a love letter, content is key; what pen you use is not important. I never think of formal styles or schools of painting, and this gives me unlimited possibilities.”

“Artists past and modern, from around the world, they leave their spirit in their paintings. I am very much moved by them.

My compositions are inspired by the spirit of traditional Chinese culture and paintings, and the Buddhist philosophy.”

“Everything is changing, moving and floating around.

I have grand passions but I have to be calmed into silence. I long for the grand expanse of vast landscapes, but I exist in the constraints of my physical body.”

“Inspired by poetry, music, landscape and Buddhist philosophy, Chen Li melds the abstract and gestural qualities of Chinese ink painting with the rich colours and textures of Western oil painting to create a unique and harmonious visual language.

Chen Li’s flying strokes render wind, clouds, the universe – transporting the viewer into the experience”