Young Chinese painter connecting African artists to global opportunities
Yiyi Wang, a 17-year-old Chinese painter, showcases one of her artworks in Nairobi.
What you need to know:
- A high school art student in China, Yiyi is deeply fascinated by the beauty of nature.
- Her father, Mr Tan Wang, revealed that Yiyi began painting at just five years old.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Yiyi Wang embodies this saying through her artistic talent.
The 17-year-old Chinese painter is passionate about capturing the beauty of nature in her artwork.
A lover of plants and animals, Yiyi communicates her admiration for nature through her paintings.
“Art not only tells a story but also expresses emotions, feelings, or ideas,” says Yiyi, who hails from Beijing.
Yiyi Wang and her father, Mr Tan Wang, in Nairobi, reviewing photos from the Sillage African Folk Artists Charity Art Sale exhibition she organized in Beijing, China.
For her, pictures convey a language that words alone cannot express. It is a cool and powerful form of communication.
A high school art student in China, Yiyi is deeply fascinated by the beauty of nature, to the extent that she uses her artwork to raise awareness about wildlife and plants through animation.
She is currently a senior student, in her second year at Beijing High School’s International Department.
Her passion for art began at a very young age. Her father, Mr Tan Wang, revealed that Yiyi began painting on any material she could find at just five years old.
“We discovered her talent when she was very young. At five, she was already passionate about art, to the point where she only sleeps about five hours a day because of her dedication,” Mr Wang said in an exclusive interview in Nairobi.
Mr Wang recently visited Kenya with his daughter, where Yiyi had the chance to tour Nairobi National Park.
She was moved by the animals she saw, such as giraffes and warthogs—creatures she had never seen in person before.
The young artist is also passionate about African culture, an attraction sparked by stories her father shared about the continent and the African art he would bring back from his travels and work.
“Each time my father returned home, he brought artwork and crafts from local artists, which piqued my interest in African culture and art,” Yiyi shared.
Over a decade later, she has channeled her father’s experiences into her own artistic work.
What makes her happiest, Yiyi says, is her ability to communicate the ‘language’ of animals through her drawings.
She recalls an experience with her pet dog, whom she could not always understand when it barked.
“Maybe it needed water, but I gave it food,” she reminisced, recalling some of her memorable interactions with animals.
Now, she believes that all that is needed is a connection between humans and animals—one that she can communicate effectively through her art work.
Yiyi uses various mediums, including oil paints, acrylics, watercolors, and charcoal.
As much as she loves nature, she is deeply discouraged by the invasion of wildlife habitats by humans.
Yiyi Wang and her father, Tan Wang, in Nairobi, reviewing photos from the Sillage African Folk Artists Charity Art Sale exhibition she organised in Beijing.
As she continues to refine her skills in high school, Yiyi is hopeful about furthering her education in art at the university level. She is set to complete her high school studies next year.
One of the most captivating aspects of Yiyi’s dedication is her commitment to connecting African folk artists with the Chinese market.
In July 2024, despite her young age, she organized a charity art sale featuring works by African folk artists in China.
The event, themed ‘Sillage African Folk Artists Charity Art Sale’, attracted 13 artists and featured African-themed paintings, including depictions of the majestic lion of the savannah, gentle elephants, fierce cheetahs, young men playing flutes in vibrant attire, and beautiful African women.
Other works on display included elderly figures wrapped in turbans, scenes of African folk dancing and drumming, fishing boats at work along the shore, and mud-and-thatch huts in villages, as well as abstract art that invited deep observation and interpretation.
Sillage is a poetic French word meaning ‘wake’ or ‘trail’, representing an intangible yet enduring presence, symbolizing the lasting impact of the artworks.
“African art is a brilliant jewel in the treasury of human culture, carrying the continent’s long history, rich emotions, and unique wisdom. These works are not just paintings; they are vibrant souls narrating their love for life and their understanding of the world,” Yiyi explains.
Organizing such an exhibition was no easy task, Yiyi admits.
With the support of her father and friends, she managed to connect with many of the artists online, often working day and night to make the event a reality.
“I had the opportunity to interact remotely with several African folk artists via video calls. I was inspired by their passion for painting and their dedication to art. The exhibition allowed me to view their works up close, as if I were hearing them narrate the vivid stories behind each piece, conveying their understanding of love and life,” she said.
The proceeds from the charity sale were used to purchase painting materials and tools for the artists, as well as for schoolchildren pursuing art.
The exhibition raised over 30,000 Yuan (approximately Sh543, 000) from the sale of the artworks.
This was the second edition of the event, following the first one, which was held in a Chinese studio.
Yiyi Wang and her father, Mr Tan Wang, in Nairobi, reviewing photos from the Sillage African Folk Artists Charity Art Sale exhibition she organized in Beijing, China.
Yiyi is determined to elevate the visibility of African artists in the global art scene.
She firmly believes that African art is a “brilliant jewel” in the treasure trove of human culture, embodying the continent’s long history, rich emotions, and unique wisdom.
Her aim is to give these artists a platform to share their talents with the world.
So far, Yiyi, a fan of Kenyan coffee and beef, has visited two African countries; Kenya and Egypt.
