In-bottle painting was once a fine art form in the east of south China's Guangdong Province. Lai Yining is one of the few artists left in China still creating these miniature masterpieces.
In-bottle painting consists of painting vivid miniature pictures inside transparent bottles. With a piece of lead wire and a custom-made brush, the artist can work wonders in just inches. Since 1972, Lai Yining has never stopped practicing the art of in-bottle painting.
He said, "Since the picture is drawn on the inside of the bottle, I have to make the strokes in reverse. I have to write and paint upside down. The biggest difficulty is caused by the small mouth of the bottle. "
Over the decades, Lai Yining has created a multitude of in-bottle artworks, including landscapes, portraits and stills, many of which have been sent abroad for exhibition. He is especially good at depicting animals like cat, fish, tiger and crane, which are loved by art-collectors both in China and abroad.
(cctv.com May 20, 2003)
