Legendary South African leader Nelson Mandela, whose influence had spread worldwide, is a household name in China. One of his ardent fans, artist Li Bin, created a giant oil painting, titled Mandela, as a tribute to the veteran statesman on his first death anniversary late last year.

"I am dedicated to creating oil paintings of historical figures, and Nelson Mandela is a hero I had long wished to portrait," Li said.

The painting, 38 meters long and 3.8 meters high, depicts Mandela's lifelong struggle for peace and tolerance in three segments – "Prisoner", "President" and "Peacemaker." It took Li over two years to finish the work. Several times, he had to make considerable modifications to what he had done.

For him, the painting was not just a commemoration of Mandela but also a learning process. "I was so impressed by his ability to think rationally, forgive and tolerate. Upon his release [from prison in 1990 after nearly three decades of imprisonment], he reconciled even with those who had persecuted him most," Li said. "He convinced black South Africans to choose tolerance and reconciliation rather than revenge, which saved the country from the disaster of racial slaughter caused by racial conflict and the political transformation."

The painting was displayed in Beijing's 798 Art Zone from late November to early December 2014. It was an essential part of the program winding up the Year of South Africa in China launched last May.

First encounter 

The first time Li saw Mandela was on television in the summer of 1990, a year after the artist arrived in New York. Mandela had been released a few months earlier and was given a fervent welcome in New York during his three-day visit in June.

"All of Manhattan was covered with festive decorations, and people of all races were saluting their hero," Li recalled. Since then, he began paying special attention to this historical figure.

But it was only 23 years later, in early 2013, that Li first set foot on South Africa's soil when his friends invited him to visit Johannesburg.

"We met Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela three times," he said. "He took us to visit the Apartheid Museum [in Johannesburg] and hoped I would paint a mural on his grandfather's entire life. Yet because Nelson Mandela was in a critical condition, his doctor did not permit us to meet him."

During his 10-day stay in South Africa, Li took photographs and researched and collected materials. After returning to Shanghai, he studied historical documents while composing the painting. It runs anticlockwise from right to left with the overall color spectrum being that of a rainbow holding three green gems. The colors of the gems graduate from dark to bright and sizes from small to large.

"South Africa is a rainbow nation, a multi-ethnic country. So I thought of a rainbow for my composition. As South Africa is well-known for producing diamonds, I drew three green gems on the rainbow to indicate Robben Island [where Mandela was imprisoned most of the time], a map of South Africa, and the globe with Africa on it," he explained.

In the 38-meter triptych, the first section, "Prisoner," shows a middle-aged Mandela reading in prison. The dark green backdrop is Robben Island. The second, "President," shows him striding forward against a backdrop that is a green map of South Africa. He is coming out of prison, calming down riots and then being elected president. The third section, "Peacemaker," picturizes a white-haired Mandela surrounded by children of all races with the globe as his backdrop. It indicates his life after retiring from politics, mediating in international conflicts and remaining active in charity work. 

Everlasting spirit

The exhibition attracted many Chinese visitors, some of whom traveled from afar to see the commemorative painting. Many stood before it to have their photographs taken "with" Mandela.

"Mandela made a great contribution to ending apartheid in South Africa and bringing about national reconciliation," said one of the visitors, college student Yang Ping. "He devoted his whole life to this pursuit and I admire his ability to survive the hardships he had to suffer."

"Mandela dedicated himself to building a world without racial discrimination. His perseverance and unselfishness has moved and encouraged many people, including me," said Wang Ying, a 30-year-old book editor. "Passing on Mandela's torch of freedom, equality and tolerance to solve conflicts and hatred in the world will be the best way to remember this great leader."

Hosted by the South African Embassy in China, the exhibition included a poem recital, Praising Mandela, and a panel discussion. The oil painting will be exhibited in Chinese Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as some other countries and regions starting July 18, 2015, ending its tour in South Africa, according to the organizer.

"We wish that this painting will encourage viewers to envision a brighter future for the world in the wake of Mandela's achievements," Li said.

"We hope this painting will help the people of our two countries better understand each other," said Zhao Haisheng, Deputy Director of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations, China's Ministry of Culture.