When asked whether the women in his paintings are imagined or real-life models, He only smiles.

"I admired Dali (Spanish surrealist, 1904-89) when I was at university," he says."For me, this is also a surrealistic world where one can put aside everything real."

Seemingly He's surrealistic world extends into his own life. He doesn't have many close friends and refuses to enter the mainstream because it is too noisy and chaotic.

"Frankly, I think I am a normal person," he says. "I don't see there is anything wrong with my lifestyle. I am the kind of person who does not care much about the result. I am keen on the process. I would not sacrifice some of the joy or peace in life in order to go through a painful process for a glorious result."

Clearly He pursues his life differently from others. "Freedom, leisure and art are the indispensable things in my life," he says.

(Shanghai Daily April 23, 2008)