Designer of Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

I heard an incredible story about the artist who designed the 2008 Olmpics logo and mascots.

Han Meilin, the famous 72 year old artist who designed the Fuwas, the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has a long, complicated, troubled past with his mother land. Along with many intellectuals and artists, he was imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). While there, he admitted he was tortured and his tendon was even cut during the Cultural Revolution. His thumbs became useless until it was later repaired by doctors.

Today he is a national hero, and displays his works at the Han Meilin Art Studio. Set up in 1989, it is the first art studio in China named after an artist, and the only one of such kind under the Chinese Artists Association. The exhibition halls of the five-storied Han Meilin Art Studio are filled with works of fine art by Han and his assistants and students. The works range from Chinese painting, calligraphy, sculpture, pottery, wood carving to bronze weaponry, paper cutting and cloth tigers.

According to Han -- science and technology, democracy, legal system and religion can all be globalized, but not art. Art must have its unique identity, he said, which for a Chinese artist includes roots in the Chinese nation.

As early as in 1980, Han Meilin's art was exhibited in shows in the United States in 21 cities, including New York and Boston. He was given the key to the city of San Diego as an honorary citizen. Manhattan in New York declared October 1, 1980 as the "Han Meilin Day." During his stay in the United States, he was also invited to give speeches at Harvard and Yale universities.
In 1983, six of Han Meilin's works were selected to be printed on Christmas cards issued by the United Nations. Since 1989, he has held one-man art show in over 20 countries. Today in the Century Park of Atlanta on permanent display is his 10-meter-high(10.9 yards) granite and cast copper sculpture-the Five-Dragon Clock Tower designed by Han Meilin for the 26th Olympic Games held in the city in 1996.

Han also has completed several colossal urban sculptures for Dalian, Shenzhen, Jinan and some other cities of China. The "Group Tigers" he created for Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province in 1989 have become a tour destination of the city. The six granite sculptured tigers are 42 meters (45.9 yards) in total length and 7 meters (7.7 yards) in height. They weigh 4,800 tons. On one of them, over 100 children can stand up at the same time.

Meilin attributes much of his inspiration to his ability to drawn from his childhood emotions. The artist believes one can benefit much from acting and thinking like a child. In fact, Han said he always keeps a mind of a child which helps feed the naivety, optimism, courage and love in his works -- all part of his attitude toward life.