Portrait of the artist as a determined man
By Wang Jie |
October 28, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FROM his earliest days, American artist and Paralympic gold medalist Gregory Burns learned to be independent and to overcome obstacles. Born in 1957, as a 10-month old baby Burns contracted polio while his family was stationed in Jerusalem. As Burns puts it, this "zapped most of the motor nerves from my waist down but fortunately only affected my left and right legs."
Burns' parents refused to let disability limit their son's horizons, teaching him to be strong and ensuring that his siblings were not over-protective. Burns clearly remembers falling over in a supermarket as a small child, and that his mother did not offer any assistance, despite the angry, accusing stares of bystanders. Through his tears, the little boy had to struggle to his feet by himself. Experiences such as this instilled a steely determination in Burns which has stood him in good stead since.
A three-time Paralympic swimmer, Burns competed in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney, winning gold medals and setting world records. Part of the appeal for Burns was that the Paralympics gave him the opportunity to test himself against other people with similar physical scenarios. But the biggest motivation though was the opportunity to travel the world that swimming brought.
Burns admits that when he first became interested in competitive swimming he was 18 years old and was attracted by the prospect of a competition in Brazil - mainly because he'd heard so much about how beautiful Brazilian women were.
Travel has been a constant feature of Burns' life. While many Westerners have become interested in China in recent years, Burns has been traveling here for almost 30 years, studying art, traveling the country and witnessing huge transformations during this time. He recalls in 1984, when in Fujian Province, sensing something of a more capitalist approach emerging.
Sport and art are what Burns calls the "necessities" in his life. And of course, travel: whether as a painter carrying canvas and brushes across five continents searching for new vistas; going on business during a stint in the corporate world; or meeting one of his motivational speaking or charity commitments.
Burns has studied Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal carving, and his large-scale paintings are bold and passionate, with powerful strokes and big blocks of color. While seeking out numerous sacred sites, Burns' work began referencing the different religious and architectural imagery of that region.
The artist has a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting and has exhibited in 17 countries throughout Asia. He has published two books in English and Mandarin and has been featured on television stations such as CNBC, ESPN, CAN and CCTV.
Burns currently has a solo-exhibition at The Gallery at Pudong Shangri-La. He says he hopes that people seeing his work will see echoes of what he has experienced over the years, striving to live a "bigger life."
Q: Before you came to China, what was your impression of the country?
A: As you may know, most foreigners think of Asia as one group of people. This, of course, is not true. But before I came to Asia, I only had a vague impression of this faraway exotic land. What I did connect with was Chinese landscape paintings, which I would later come to study under Chinese painting masters.
Q: You are a Paralympic gold medalist in swimming, and have also worked as an artist for decades. What benefits do you think you've gained from focusing on these very different activities?
A: I feel that both are good for body, mind and soul; I think that they are both uplifting.
Q: Your life story inspires many people to overcome obstacles. Where does your confidence and zest for life come from?
A: When I was a child, my mother and father always encouraged me to get back up by myself when I fell down. I think that this simple example made me learn how to take care of myself and feel confident. Also, I never felt like a victim and thus felt responsible for my life and happiness.
Q: You appear optimistic and strong. Do things get you down sometimes?
A: Like most people, I have many down moments. Life is a cycle and if you're around me long enough you'll get my smiles and my tears. The most desperate moments have been in my relationships when I feel that I have lost something special or done something very wrong.
Q: When you first saw traditional ink-wash painting and calligraphy, did you think it was easy to grasp? How long did it take for you to fully understand the spirit of Chinese art?
A: To truly understand any art or technique takes many years. Everything is easy at first. We have a kind of beginner's luck. But if we try to go deeper into anything, we find that it takes great concentration, patience and practice. Through this, we may become accomplished at what we do.
Q: You travel widely around the world, what are your favorite destinations?
A: Currently, Laos and Cambodia are my favorite spots in Asia, while I enjoy the lifestyle in France and Italy.
Q: What color do you like best when painting? And why?
A: I go through phases and switch between reds and oranges and blues and greens. I know that pretty much covers the whole color wheel! But I feel differently at different times and am pulled by colors accordingly.
Q: Now if you returned to being 20 years old, what would you do?
A: Love more and laugh more, while not taking life too seriously.
Burns' parents refused to let disability limit their son's horizons, teaching him to be strong and ensuring that his siblings were not over-protective. Burns clearly remembers falling over in a supermarket as a small child, and that his mother did not offer any assistance, despite the angry, accusing stares of bystanders. Through his tears, the little boy had to struggle to his feet by himself. Experiences such as this instilled a steely determination in Burns which has stood him in good stead since.
A three-time Paralympic swimmer, Burns competed in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney, winning gold medals and setting world records. Part of the appeal for Burns was that the Paralympics gave him the opportunity to test himself against other people with similar physical scenarios. But the biggest motivation though was the opportunity to travel the world that swimming brought.
Burns admits that when he first became interested in competitive swimming he was 18 years old and was attracted by the prospect of a competition in Brazil - mainly because he'd heard so much about how beautiful Brazilian women were.
Travel has been a constant feature of Burns' life. While many Westerners have become interested in China in recent years, Burns has been traveling here for almost 30 years, studying art, traveling the country and witnessing huge transformations during this time. He recalls in 1984, when in Fujian Province, sensing something of a more capitalist approach emerging.
Sport and art are what Burns calls the "necessities" in his life. And of course, travel: whether as a painter carrying canvas and brushes across five continents searching for new vistas; going on business during a stint in the corporate world; or meeting one of his motivational speaking or charity commitments.
Burns has studied Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal carving, and his large-scale paintings are bold and passionate, with powerful strokes and big blocks of color. While seeking out numerous sacred sites, Burns' work began referencing the different religious and architectural imagery of that region.
The artist has a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting and has exhibited in 17 countries throughout Asia. He has published two books in English and Mandarin and has been featured on television stations such as CNBC, ESPN, CAN and CCTV.
Burns currently has a solo-exhibition at The Gallery at Pudong Shangri-La. He says he hopes that people seeing his work will see echoes of what he has experienced over the years, striving to live a "bigger life."
Q: Before you came to China, what was your impression of the country?
A: As you may know, most foreigners think of Asia as one group of people. This, of course, is not true. But before I came to Asia, I only had a vague impression of this faraway exotic land. What I did connect with was Chinese landscape paintings, which I would later come to study under Chinese painting masters.
Q: You are a Paralympic gold medalist in swimming, and have also worked as an artist for decades. What benefits do you think you've gained from focusing on these very different activities?
A: I feel that both are good for body, mind and soul; I think that they are both uplifting.
Q: Your life story inspires many people to overcome obstacles. Where does your confidence and zest for life come from?
A: When I was a child, my mother and father always encouraged me to get back up by myself when I fell down. I think that this simple example made me learn how to take care of myself and feel confident. Also, I never felt like a victim and thus felt responsible for my life and happiness.
Q: You appear optimistic and strong. Do things get you down sometimes?
A: Like most people, I have many down moments. Life is a cycle and if you're around me long enough you'll get my smiles and my tears. The most desperate moments have been in my relationships when I feel that I have lost something special or done something very wrong.
Q: When you first saw traditional ink-wash painting and calligraphy, did you think it was easy to grasp? How long did it take for you to fully understand the spirit of Chinese art?
A: To truly understand any art or technique takes many years. Everything is easy at first. We have a kind of beginner's luck. But if we try to go deeper into anything, we find that it takes great concentration, patience and practice. Through this, we may become accomplished at what we do.
Q: You travel widely around the world, what are your favorite destinations?
A: Currently, Laos and Cambodia are my favorite spots in Asia, while I enjoy the lifestyle in France and Italy.
Q: What color do you like best when painting? And why?
A: I go through phases and switch between reds and oranges and blues and greens. I know that pretty much covers the whole color wheel! But I feel differently at different times and am pulled by colors accordingly.
Q: Now if you returned to being 20 years old, what would you do?
A: Love more and laugh more, while not taking life too seriously.
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