The Children of China: An Artist's Journey

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

Removed from his teaching position at the Art Institute during the
Chinese Cultural Revolution and “re-educated” in labor camps, Song
Nan Zhang dreamed during his period of servitude about the freedom
enjoyed by the nomadic peoples of China who were not constrained by the
Terror. Following his reinstatement at the Institute, he used his
holidays to travel in the border country and paint the inhabitants. This
volume of beautiful paintings and insightful reminiscences about the
people he met is the fruit of his “artist’s journey.”

Zhang summarizes the history, mythology, and customs of the various
tribes he encountered. He uses personal anecdotes to enliven the
narrative, and often engages the reader directly by posing questions
about the text and the artwork. The paintings, a subtle blend of realism
and surrealism, are remarkable for their evocative quality. Highly
recommended.