Documentary - "Australian Spirit, Chinese Heart"

The heart yearns, the soul drives
Passion breaks all boundaries
Over 20 years
Two panoramic murals, 100 meter-long
The Australian Spirit, Chinese Heart
One man, naming himself the wrangler
Bringing cultural fusion
Melding East and West, modern and traditional

Di Xiong Yao is an artist born to Russian and Chinese parents living through the Chinese Cultural Revolution and migrating to Australia as a refugee in 1981.

Over 20 years, Di Xiong combined western and Chinese painting traditions to complete two masterpieces. The 63 meter-long mural, Two Hundred Kangaroos depicts the famous Australian landscapes, flora and fauna with kangaroos frolicking. The 100 meter-long mural, Soul of Australia, is an epic paean of how the aborigines lived in harmony with nature prior to European settlement. This documentary shows the artists talent with the unusual and moving story behind the way that he paints and the topics he chooses.

The documentary also reflects on identity and biculturalism and the value of artistic experimentation. Di Xiong travels back to his homeland rekindling his passion for traditional horse painting, bringing new kinds of cultural fusion - between East and West, modern and traditional.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Chinese Heart