Though known for horses, painter has broader range

Horses and grasslands helped shape Qi Hong's view of art. Provided to China Daily

Not all paintings of galloping horses are the same.

The works of Qi Hong, a Chinese painter who grew up on horseback, have more to say with their distinctive combination of Eastern and Western styles.

Qi, now an artist-in-residence at the Singapore Nanyang Arts House, is a master in Chinese ink, murals and oil paintings.

He is particularly skilled at painting horses, and his work has won him renown throughout China, France, Japan and Southeast Asia.

In September 2013, Qi was the only Chinese artist to be invited to hold a solo exhibition - "A Galloping Horse: Qi Hong Ink Paintings Exhibition" - for the 2013 Singapore President's Challenge, a charity campaign run by the government.

In 2011, his series of horse paintings Galloping Against the Skyline was first introduced to Singapore.

The series won instant acclaim. Many of the works have been acquired by collectors from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

All theses achievements are hard won. Born to a family of farmers in Liaoning province, Qi has come a long way in the world of art.

"My family owned a carriage, so in my childhood, I cut hay, cleaned manure, and fed and brushed horses everyday," Qi said. "That carriage was the only source of income for my family."

This experience was an inspiration for Qi as well.

"The horses fascinated me. I stared at them, and then used stones to draw pictures of them on the ground," he said.

"The carriage triggered my interest in painting. So when I grew older, I used pens to illustrate the very strong and handsome features of horses."

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