Shi Guoliang is a national first-class artist and a researcher of the National Academy of Painting. In his early years, he became famous for his realistic ink figure paintings. His success is rooted in good basic skills and a diligent attitude to collecting materials. He loves capturing what he sees through ink sketching. Resolvedly and quickly, he draws out what he feels in a refreshing way.

For over 30 years, he has visited Tibet Autonomous Region for countless times, sketching, creating paintings, collecting materials, and communicating with local Tibetans. He has already developed a deep affection to this land.

As early as over 20 years ago, Shi Guoliang’s Tibet-themed Carving Scriptures won the UNESCO Award at the 23rd Monte Carlo International Contemporary Art Competition.

His paintings depict various figures: peasants on cornfields, worshipers at monasteries, strollers in forests, herdsmen driving cattle, mother and son beside a door, women holding prayer wheels, and little lamas chanting in the morning. These paintings reflect folk customs of this plateau, simple, amiable and realistic. So, we can say Shi Guoliang is really a painter painting Tibet.

“I’ve painted many Tibet-themed paintings, all about Jokhang Monastery. I think Jokhang has given me many inspirations.” According to Shi Guoliang, people identify him as a painter painting Tibet. He visited Tibet in 1979 for the first time. In over 30 years, he’s paid many visits to this plateau. Even merchants at Barkhor Street and hotel attendants can recognize him.

“I believe, in the future I’ll create a painting named Jokhang. It’ll concentrate all my talents. It’ll be my legacy.” That’s a goal Shi Guoliang sets for himself. That’s his aspiration for art after 30-year devotion to figure paintings.