Panda Shangri-La, 2013
oil on belgian linen
36 x 24 in
(91.44h x 60.96w cm)
SOLD
In our fast paced lives there are few places in this world where one can truly find peace. When it becomes too much, we sometimes seek a quiet place to distance ourselves from the troubles of the world. This giant panda has found himself a little slice of paradise within the solace of a forested hillside next to a small stream. As a guest of the Chinese government, visiting to learn about their Panda Program, I came across this scene in the Fengshongshi nature reserve. While I had plenty of wonderful moments at the breeding center in Chengdu, the shy and secretive Shong Mau (Mandrin for Panda) remained a ghost, as I was only able to discover tracks and a few tufts of hair along the trail. I just knew that, at some point, there must have been a panda who sought a moment of peace by this large tree on the edge of the babbling brook.
