Painting and Interview: “Being One with Heaven”

Oil Painting “Being One with Heaven” by Xiao Ping (47 in. x 69 in.), 2004

Introductory Note: From July the 15th to the 16th, 2004, an art exhibition sponsored by the Falun Dafa Association of Washington, D.C. with the theme of "Uncompromising Courage," was held in the exhibition hall of Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Falun Gong practitioners created all the art works in the exhibits. Some of the artists are still illegally imprisoned in China. After five years of bloody suppression, these Falun Gong artists hope to express the joy of returning to one’s true nature through cultivating Falun Gong, their indestructible righteous beliefs under cruel tortures and suppression, their persistence in pursuing Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and their faith in “justice will defeat evil eventually.” These artists each have their merits. They have tried to use the traditional methods to achieve their goals. We will continue to introduce the works of these artists, the ideas behind their works and their creation processes.

Interview with Ms. Xiao Ping

Reporter: Zhu Qing-ming, a reporter for PureInsight Org
Xiao: Ms. Xiao, Ping, artist

Reporter: You contributed five paintings for this painting exhibit. One of these is “Being One with Heaven,” which is a girl in performing the fifth Falun Gong exercise. She is sat in meditation. There is a column of light on top of her head that is penetrating the heavens, and there are little infants in the column of light. Would you please tell me about how the idea of this painting originated?

Xiao: When I meditate I have a feeling. I feel very comfortable when I relax, to the extent of not thinking about anything, devoid of any thoughts. You are at your best when people look at you at this time. Once a person opens his eyes in front of other people, he will hide behind a mask. But in meditation, you are your real self, the most beautiful, most comfortable, and most relaxed. I wanted to express the wonderfulness that Falun Dafa cultivation practice brings. Then I thought to do that by painting the act of meditation. There is a very interesting description about “San Hua Ju Ding” (Three Flowers Gathering on Top of the Head). I thought it would be very meaningful to paint it. It reflects a phenomenon that happens to a cultivator when he cultivates to a certain level, that is, three flowers rotating on his head. Because I lived by the seashore for many years, I have experienced the feeling of open space and of the blue sky over a great ocean, which is very attractive to people.

Reporter: Composition-wise your painting consists of a straight column of light pointing upward. It is not easy to compose this. Could you talk about how you designed this column of light in your composition?

Xiao: When I decided on the topic of “San Hua Ju Ding,” it was for the expression of connecting heaven and man through the expression of this light column. I drew it this way even when I did the sketch. To express the depth and width I used scenery of the seascape to generate the impression of a distance from the character, making the character and the light column stand out, and telling the audience what I want to express.

Reporter: Do you want your audience to see the light column or the girl at the first glance?

Xiao: I feel that they are one and the same.

Detail from “Being One with Heaven” by Xiao Ping

Reporter: There are several infants in the picture. Did you want them to balance the picture or are there other reasons?

Xiao: I heard from fellow Falun Gong practitioners who have their third eye opened that there are infants in the other dimension that are very playful. Therefore, I painted them both to make the painting interesting and to make the composition look better. They form a “S” shape, break the feeling of a straight line, and they add a lively feeling. Therefore, I decided to paint them in the picture. The really exist, but those who don't cultivate cannot see them. People who can see them told me they look like that.

Reporter: The girl who is meditating looks like you. Is it a self-portrait?

Xiao: Basically I painted using my own picture. Still, I feel it is not completely like me. It looks like me for in some places. It is because it contains messages of myself. My friends can all tell which paintings are mine. They can recognise it because it contains my message.

Reporter: Did you use your picture as a model for this painting?

Xiao: Yes, But I changed the colour of the top to white, to express purity. The hair is also a little shorter. The expression and the face do completely look like the picture.