Fantasy landscapes

Zeng Renzhen's paintings focus on the carefree life of a tiny character who enjoys roaming through exquisitely detailed, imaginary gardens, Cheng Yuezhu reports.

A tiny person in a traditional white Chinese gown wanders about in the vast world, drinking tea in an exquisite little courtyard, occasionally dozing off on a fluffy paint brush, and most recently, roaming through a kingdom constructed out of Chinese characters.

For five years, Zeng Renzhen has been creating a series of paintings centered around this diminutive character who likes to go on adventures, meet new people, take care of chores, and generally enjoy an enviably carefree life.

Zeng now leads a similarly tranquil life in the Songzhuang Art Zone in suburban Beijing, living and working in his studio adorned with paintings and the paraphernalia of a literati. He leaves the terrace door open on a sunny summer afternoon, where occasional breezes waft in the subtle fragrances from nature outside.