This artwork belongs to a series centered on the Longmen Grottoes (Dragon Gate), which are situated in Luoyang, Henan Province.Carving work on the Longmen Grottoes first began in 493 AD, spanning more than 400 years of creation and boasting a history of over 1,500 years. The site contains 2,345 caves and niches, upwards of 100,000 stone statues of varying sizes, and more than 2,800 stone stele inscriptions. Recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and a national 5A-level tourist attraction, it ranks among China’s Four Great Ancient Grottoes. This painting features the iconic lotus carving from Lotus Cave (Lianhua Cave). Dating to the Northern Wei Dynasty (504–527 AD), the cave is renowned for its monumental 3.6-meter-diameter lotus ceiling relief. Its intricately layered petals are exquisitely carved, encircled by six flying apsaras (feitian), winding scroll foliage and exotic floral motifs. This relief is the largest and most refined lotus carving across the entire Longmen complex. Within Buddhist symbolism, the lotus grows from mud yet remains untainted, embodying pure inner essence and the Pure Land. Graceful, unrestrained flying apsaras stand for liberation from worldly torment and the guidance of all living beings toward the Pure Land. Paired together, the still lotus and dynamic apsaras illustrate a core spiritual meaning: those who uphold inner purity shall break free from earthly suffering and attain the Pure Land.
Natallia Surayeva (Chinese name: Li Kaishu, b. 1978, Gomel, Belarus) is a Belarusian artist and scholar based in Henan Province, China, where she has lived for nearly twenty years. She earned a PhD in art from the Surikov Academy of Fine Arts, Moscow (2011) and a postdoctoral certificate in Chinese history from Henan University (2022). Since 2013, she has been an associate art professor at Henan University. Her work focuses on Chinese landscapes, architecture, ancient sculptures, and cultural relics, inspired by Henan’s 5,000-year history and the Longmen Grottoes, which she describes as a source of continual inspiration. Surayeva has participated in cultural exchange projects between Russia and China and exhibited extensively in China and internationally. Recent highlights include the 15th Florence Biennale (2025), the 4th Shenzhen Dafen International Oil Painting Biennale (2025), the 3rd Asian Art Biennale (2024, gold medal), and the Sino-Italian International Art Biennale, Rome (2024, gold and silver medals).
This artwork belongs to a series centered on the Longmen Grottoes (Dragon Gate), which are situated in Luoyang, Henan Province.Carving work on the Longmen Grottoes first began in 493 AD, spanning more than 400 years of creation and boasting a history of over 1,500 years. The site contains 2,345 caves and niches, upwards of 100,000 stone statues of varying sizes, and more than 2,800 stone stele inscriptions. Recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and a national 5A-level tourist attraction, it ranks among China’s Four Great Ancient Grottoes. This painting features the iconic lotus carving from Lotus Cave (Lianhua Cave). Dating to the Northern Wei Dynasty (504–527 AD), the cave is renowned for its monumental 3.6-meter-diameter lotus ceiling relief. Its intricately layered petals are exquisitely carved, encircled by six flying apsaras (feitian), winding scroll foliage and exotic floral motifs. This relief is the largest and most refined lotus carving across the entire Longmen complex. Within Buddhist symbolism, the lotus grows from mud yet remains untainted, embodying pure inner essence and the Pure Land. Graceful, unrestrained flying apsaras stand for liberation from worldly torment and the guidance of all living beings toward the Pure Land. Paired together, the still lotus and dynamic apsaras illustrate a core spiritual meaning: those who uphold inner purity shall break free from earthly suffering and attain the Pure Land.
Natallia Surayeva (Chinese name: Li Kaishu, b. 1978, Gomel, Belarus) is a Belarusian artist and scholar based in Henan Province, China, where she has lived for nearly twenty years. She earned a PhD in art from the Surikov Academy of Fine Arts, Moscow (2011) and a postdoctoral certificate in Chinese history from Henan University (2022). Since 2013, she has been an associate art professor at Henan University. Her work focuses on Chinese landscapes, architecture, ancient sculptures, and cultural relics, inspired by Henan’s 5,000-year history and the Longmen Grottoes, which she describes as a source of continual inspiration. Surayeva has participated in cultural exchange projects between Russia and China and exhibited extensively in China and internationally. Recent highlights include the 15th Florence Biennale (2025), the 4th Shenzhen Dafen International Oil Painting Biennale (2025), the 3rd Asian Art Biennale (2024, gold medal), and the Sino-Italian International Art Biennale, Rome (2024, gold and silver medals).