Ye Huanwei was born in Dongguan, Guangdong. He studied oil painting in the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. He’s now working full time on the study and creation of oil paintings. He rents a temple as his studio in Xiaozhou Village in Guangzhou; it is also a restaurant and Ye is the chef. His works are realistic with stunning exquisiteness.

 

Ye Huanwei continued his exquisiteness on the two kiwisual stones. "Cracking" is the theme of the stones. On one of them, there is a lock on the crack, and a crisis is avoided; on the other one, the crack goes wild, and an abyss is revealed. There are two stories hidden in Ye Huanwei’s stones. Do you see two “tea eggs” or two stories?

 

 

First meeting

Although I was quite familiar with the many “hidden workshops and crouching cafes” of Xiaozhou Village, I couldn’t help breathing out sighs of wonder when Dong Yidian opened that heavy-duty door and revealed the world behind.

 

It was a quaint temple. We were immediately greeted by a variety of lush plants: low, luxuriant, aquatic, scandent, bustling all over the courtyard; layers of tile roofs took over the skyline; a deep hall extended around, with works of the artist hung up on the walls; and an exquisite wing-room consummated a trip of awe.

 

 

When we were drinking in the dainty details of the enchanting “Green Wood Garden”, the host had prepared a table of delicious food: steamed fish with spices, soy sauce chicken, taro and vegetables--- it went straight to the hearts of the delegate from downtown. Meanwhile, Dong Yidian pulled over the friendly-looking chef who had been standing aside, saying:”This is the host of the day, Mr. Ye Huanwei, artist and chef.”

 

That was how we met Ye Huanwei--- a chapter of color, aroma and flavor, as we Chinese say! What kind of host could it be residing at this peaceful courtyard--- so peaceful as if you could hear the time flow by?

 

Painting & cooking

 

 

As an artist, you need to find a relatively stable place to create. “Green Wood Garden” is a resort of fine art and fine food that supports Ye Huanwei's work in art, but what’s more important, he enjoys making delicacy, which is another way of fun besides artistic creation, and it provides consistency to the latter.

 

A believer of Taoism

 

 

Ye wanted to be an artist when he was a child, and he's been working on that ever since. It’s neither accidental nor necessary that he chose to pursue art for his life; it’s like a seed finding the most suitable soil after an explorative journey of twists and turns; he's ended up with art in the same way--- it is natural and it suits him; it doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong; he will continue the “solitary” pursuit of art for the rest of his life.

 

Living with solitude

 

 

"What an artist works on is originality and uniqueness; he’s a man of principles and insists on his own artistic pursuits; he’s “different” in the eyes of others; a world of solitude follows. Solitude calms down a person so that he can think clearly and imagination and creativity result anyway; that’s why an artist wouldn’t care if people understand or appreciate him or not."

 

"Art originates from life; every art piece is rooted in life; inspiration certainly comes from life too. Pay attention to the bigger world around you, find something that reaches your heart, gather your creative excitement, and present it with techniques you are good at." Problems of society and life leave their prints on Ye's mind, and he grasps the pulse of the times by way of oil paintings of different everyday tools and objects.

 

A humble master of peace

 

 

When we are with Ye Huanwei, he's always sitting there, humble as usual, with a friendly smile. “Green Wood Garden”--- what  simple words! Yet you could hear your own soul there.

 

 

Video: Stones in Xiaozhou Art Village