February 28, 2017. 21.5 x 27cm. Oil on canvas.

This old man I met during my April trip to Guangxi boundary was one of its kind.

Mentioned before I loved to travel to rural area undeveloped area poor area because I thought people there were genuine and adorable. But of course food was bad, accommodation was bad, travelling was bad.

This time we went to a minority race village of 侗族。The place was beautiful. And we met an old men of 90 with his wife and his grand grand son. He looked like 75. Healthy. Very cheerful. He talked to us about his asset: 12 hens and 1 cow. He showed his house, his field and he introduced his family to us. 

He was a heavy smoker and obviously he had no entertainment except this smoking thing. He had wrinkles and bad teeth.

I kept wondering. The place has perfect harmony and he lived here so naturally and happily. Without thinking of the harm of poisonous food or cigarettes. Lack of retirement scheme, medical protection, teeth annual check. Nevertheless he was so happy.

He became a great artistic profile in my mind. So I paint him, his house, his hens, his lovely village in the midst of the hills and besides a small river.