Painting with light (3)

A work showing a Chinese dragon by Roy Wang and other artists broke the Guinness World Record for the largest light drawing in 2018.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Returning to China in 2013, he started integrating Chinese cultural elements into light painting, from mystical flowers to mythical animals, including the dragon and other creatures from ancient texts.

"I am first and foremost a Chinese, and also, I used to play for the national team in foreign countries, so it is my wish to take Chinese culture overseas," he says.

Wang's work is inspired by mythical creatures that add a sense of mystery to his photography but at the same time such images prove difficult to render using light. He researches folk tales from China before drawing a mental picture of his creation.

Wang says his favorite works are those related to The Classic of Mountains and Seasbooks, especially a series created for a wildlife-protection exhibition at the Tianjin China House museum, in which mythical creatures "stride "over the building known for its collection of antique porcelain pieces.