Mansheng Wang

Mansheng Wang was born in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China in 1962. Following graduation in 1985 from the Chinese Department of Shanghai's Fudan University, where he majored in classical literature, he worked for over a decade as an editor, director and producer at China Central Television in Beijing. He has devoted himself full-time to painting and calligraphy since his move to New York in 1996. Influenced by his training and interest in the Chinese classics, his painting are often reflections on the landscapes and images of China's past. Wang's calligraphy and painting have been shown worldwde, including in exhibitions in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Europe, and the United States. His works are in the collections of the Baltimore Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Princeton Art Museum, Yale Art Museum, Philadlphia Museum of Art, Huntington Library and Shanxi Museum. Mansheng Wang resides in Hudson River Valley outside of New York City with his family. He also lived in Texas with his wife when their daughter was born. He spent many afternoons splashing around in the Blanco River.

The Thousand Buddhas motif derives from Buddhist cave temples dating from the Northern Wei period (386-534 AD) in China in which the main sculpture of the Buddha was surrounded by smaller Buddhist figures carved into the rock face. This motif is also found in woodblock prints containing multiple images of the Buddha. The repetition is likened to chanting and meditation practice. The Thousand Buddhas also symbolize gathering the wisdom and compassion of the Buddhas from across space and time to bring enlightenment to all sentient beings.

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