"I've never painted real people. All the characters in my paintings came from my own imagination. It's challenging, yet very interesting," says Wen Na, adding that the collaboration went smoothly and she spent about three months working on the project. "I didn't want the paintings to look like those real people. What I am trying to capture is their character."
"Since I travel a lot, I paint anywhere and anytime I can. I hope that audience will get a sense of my paintings. I also wish to offer a fresh perspective to the reality show," the artist says.
According to Wang Xinxuan, head of Young Blood Studio under Tencent Video, who is also the producer of the fifth season of The Coming One, the creativity and originality of Wen Na's paintings are impressive, showcasing the artist's unique artistic language. Her art works give traditional Chinese culture and mural paintings a modern twist, which appeals to audiences, especially the younger generation, Wang believes. Her technique also demands a sustained gaze.
Wang also notes that in its fifth season, the reality show will further display the vibrancy of Chinese original music talents.
Born and raised in Beijing, Wen Na started to paint as a child thanks to her family, which is full of contemporary artists. She graduated from the Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University with a printmaking major.
Her love for mural paintings started in 2010 when she visited Sanbao, a village in China's porcelain capital of Jingdezhen in East China's Jiangxi province.
Ceramic artist Li Jianshen met Wen Na in the village and let her paint on a wall. Wen Na painted for two days, featuring characters of traditional Chinese gods, such as the kitchen god Zaowangye and Du Kang, the god of liquor.
She also painted the first god she created on the wall－Shu Hai, as well as making up a story for the character. Shu Hai refers to a sea god, whose power is constrained by clay.
