He Duoling is hailed as an icon of "scar painting", or "painting the wounded" - an art phenomenon that appeared in the later period of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). It was a shift from portraying heroes to depicting ordinary people's fates.

People were amazed that Spring Winds Have Awoken - He's quiet painting of a girl, ox and dog on the grassland - could deliver such a strong message about how the reform and opening-up policy was awakening Chinese society.

He says people read too much into his paintings. It was a beautiful misunderstanding, he explains.