Nature therapy has long been recognised as an effective way to beat stress. Anxiety and tension can be lowered by looking at imagery with green and blue shades depicting the countryside and water; medical issues can be positively controlled by immersing ourselves more in our natural surroundings.
Recognised as the disease of the century, stress is known for causing adverse health effects leading to increased physical, mental and emotional responses. One of the most common contributors is the workplace and family life so it is important to create a calming effect either in the office or at home.
A new series of photographs taken by renowned Chinese photographer Qin Yuhai will be available from June, capturing abstract images of water at Mount Yuntai in China over a period of several years. The artworks, which show the soothing movement of water and celebrate the rhythm of life, will improve the ambience of any workplace or boost a favourite area in the home, helping to induce an emotional state of harmony and balance.
The importance and significance of water has long been emphasised by the ancient oriental philosophers, who consider it to be the fifth main element of life. According to Chinese culture, water stands for tranquillity, stillness and rest, and is the source of all great innovations and ideas. Mr. Qin’s artistic path is aligned with this tradition and his work expresses his gratitude to water by showcasing its magnificence and charm through his exclusive abstract images.
Qin Yuhai, whose exhibition ‘Ebb and Flow’ will be appearing at the Saatchi Gallery in London between 11-15 June, explains: “Water always fascinates me and tranquility overcomes me every time I fix the lens of my camera on it. My sense of self and the world vanishes and in my mind’s eye water becomes alive.
"The photographs in this exhibition are abstract yet they express my freedom from the bondage of the real world and my very self. They highlight my adherence to the philosophical call for harmony between nature and man. The beauty of water is beyond description; curves and colours are used to present water as a substance without a smell. Ripples and waves are intended to present the freedom of water from any fixed shape or form. Photography is my immutable way of life and water is the subject of a lifelong artistic pursuit.”
All the images are based on Qin Yuhai’s long engagement and relationship with Mount Yuntai in central China’s Henan Province.
The photographs, taken on a 10x8 camera, are the result of years of learning and understanding how best to represent the essence of water. At the same time, they are an exploration of the nature and language of photography. The ‘Ebb and Flow’ images will be available for purchase from www.activeukchina.com from £3,800 to £5,000.
Qin Yuhai was born in 1953 in Tailai County, Heilongjiang Province in China. He has been taking photographs most of his life and has won many awards. ‘Ebb and Flow’ is his first exhibition in London.
For more details on Ebb and Flow, an exhibition by Qin Yuhai, visit: www.activeukchina.com/ebbandflow.