Picturing an epic journey

The Long March 1936, a sequel to the first section, illustrates how the major units of the Red Army triumphed separately in key battles en route before finally merging into one force in Gansu province in October 1936, marking the end of the Long March.

The section The Promethean Fire works as a supplement to the Long March, depicting how other small units of the Red Army fought with Kuomintang forces in regions across the country to deflect the enemy's focus from the Red Army's Long March, during which they traversed rivers and mountains, struggling with harsh environment.

Fan Di'an, president of the China Artists Association, says that Shen's works are a perfect combination of art and reality to tell the vivid stories of the Long March based on the artist's decadeslong research and journeys to the routes which the Red Army took during the march.

Shen then spent 12 years finishing the trilogy. The 78-year-old has visited various places along the route of the Long March many times since 1975. He visited snowcapped mountains, grasslands and rivers, talking to local people who met the Red Army to gather anecdotes. He also interviewed many soldiers from the Red Army.