Off the wall

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Source: Global Times
[14:00 June 30 2010]
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An artist working on a traditional Chinese wall painting. Photos: Courtesy of The No.1 Wall Painter

Dai Xiaoyuan studied interior design at the Shangrao Normal School in Jiangxi Province and now works full time for the No.1 Wall Painter. His work is mainly fine brush painting or oil painting. "It's much better working here than in a regular decorating company," he says. "You don't have to have a lot of work experience and what I've already learnt at school has made me a proficient wall painter."

Zeng Yongbo, a graduate of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in Chengdu, now has regular work from the company for which he is paid between 300 yuan ($44.14) and 400 yuan for a flexible working day. "To join the company group, the painters must have been painting for about 10 years, either as students or children," says Ding. He stresses that the success of the operation depends on effective interaction between the client and the painters. First the painter visits the site, listens to the client's requirements, and then sketches out a rough draft of what the finished painting will look like. After being approved by both parties, only then does the real process of painting begin. Chalk is first used to make an outline of the artwork, after which the colors are methodically painted in.

Wang Zhen has just opened her own serviced apartment business on Xinzha Road near Jing'an Temple and hired Ding to create something special for each of the rooms. Today, the rooms feature cartoon-style images of Shanghai celebrities from the last 100 years including the writer Eileen Chang, film star Ruan Lingyu and leading athlete Liu Xiang. "I told them what I had in mind and how I wanted these figures to look, said Wang. "But ultimately it was up to them to decide how to execute the whole picture. I understand it's a very personal, artistic process." The paintings in each of the rooms set her back between 8,000 and 20,000 yuan. "But what I have purchased is both art and a personality for the apartments, so I don't think it's expensive at all."

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