I was born in a “satellite city,” a place with lots of factories and warehouses for kids to play in. During my idle time (which was most of the time during my childhood) I wandered around the silent corners a lot, whiling away my days. At the granary, for example, I would watch the farmers drying grain on vast fields, and then wait for the sparrows to come and eat it; I would find two pieces of flints from the shoolyard’s rockpile to bring home; or I would take long walks along newly discovered trails and then try to find my way home before sunset… I loved killing time like this. But I never imagined that that such an idle childhood would help me construct such a rich inner world. The deserted riverbank, the playground corner, the shade under the trees were paradise in my mind.

I hope I can recreate that paradise in my paintings, without any disguise, glorification or mystification, just the bare truth. And I hope that this truth will move those who share my experience.