FROM INK ON paper to mammoth copper sculpture, Han Meilin is one of the most versatile and prolific artists working on the mainland. And at 70, he shows no sign of stopping. 'I feel these are my golden years. I'm now doing my best work. Next year, I want to try oil painting,' says the man who has been dubbed 'Picasso of the Orient'.
Ranked as a first-class artist on the mainland in 1986, a high state accolade, Han will soon have the honour of having a second museum dedicated to his work. Last year, the Han Meilin Art Gallery opened in Hangzhou with more than 1,000 works donated by the artist. Early next year the Han Meilin Museum, spanning 10,000 sq ft, will open in Beijing. Located on the east side of the city in the Tong Zhou district, it will house 2,000 pieces.
'I feel very privileged as a living artist to have two museums with my name. Usually you have to wait until you're dead,' he says. Han has retained much of his work over the years, 'because they're all unique, like children'.
'For sure if you see a Han Meilin for sale on the market it's likely to be a fake,' says the artist who was recently in Singapore where a retrospective of his work is being planned for next year.
Born in 1936 in Jinan, Shandong province, Han was the second of three sons from a poor family. He started studying calligraphy and painting at the age of six and quickly showed artistic talent. By 13, he was enrolled in the army and tasked with painting and sculpting busts of army heroes, a skill he would employ years later on his giant sculptures.
In 1955 he graduated from the Central Academy of Arts and Design (now a part of Tsinghua University) and was retained as a faculty member at the Department of Decorative Art. The Cultural Revolution brought hardship for the already famous artist. He was imprisoned for more than 41/2 years and tortured. After his release from jail, Han turned his artistic attention to animal portraits 'because I couldn't get into trouble painting only animals'.
He also developed his own style of Chinese ink painting, which he admits to stumbling on by accident.