"It’s more difficult for us to get to know each other spiritually than materially. Therefore, such an exchange allows everyone to know how the people of that land live their psychological lives."

Given that his portraits feature people tense with anxiety and inner struggle, it's almost baffling to see Chao in person and discover what a quiet and self-composed man he is. But Chao admits that he does his best to hide his tormented soul with a mild-mannered appearance.

Chao always expected that a new artistic experiment would mean challenging the established aesthetic tastes and habits, but he still hadn't expected it to be so lonely and strenuous a battle.

But he says that now that he's embarked on his expressionist crusade, he will never turn back. He's determined to create something possessing a more abiding spiritual grace and distinction, something that can endure posterity's critical gaze forever.

(CCTV April 29, 2009)