Funeral in Winter

Wang speaks of human existence-- born from nature, returning to nature. This painting of a funeral in the expansive Huangtu Plateau region reflects his thoughts on these fundamental matters as his figures are bound in a deep nostalgia for nature. The massive sense of scale in this painting comes from its elevated horizon line and reflects the artist's actual experiences in the Huangtu Plateau region. On the other hand, the uniform arrangement of people facing forward, looking out at the viewer, reveals the strong influence of commemorative photographs and magazine illustrations on Wang's work. The compelling, disciplined techniques of realism are completely appropriate for this scene reconstructed from photographs. Paintings created in this realistic, academic style have been the most popular art form in China's art community and among the general populace for many years, and still are today. Wang is one of the leading painters in this style.