Mapping a blazing talent

Xiang's wife, Bao Tiantian, 35, says she supports her husband's choice. "Xiang is a romantic man, not the roses-and-candlelit-dinner kind of romantic, but discovering and enjoying pleasures and blessings in ordinary life."

Xiang's experience in the advertising industry made him sensitive to popular elements, but also cast doubt on the fast consumption culture, he says.

A good artwork should be able to inspire viewers to think independently, even after leaving a gallery or flicking through a catalog, which is different from advertising that relies on the immediate gratification of the consumer, he adds.

"Creating art allows me to break away from the mental game of 'selling' and focus on myself. I no longer have to worry about the reaction of the audience, which used to be one of my main concerns in advertising," he says, adding that creating art now for him is a process of discovering himself.

Xiang has held onto his habit of waking up early. He takes a 10-minute walk to his studio after watering the plants and feeding two tortoises at home. He returns home for dinner with his family.

"For me, art is not a piece of bread that fills my stomach. It's more like an open window with fresh air coming through," Xiang says.