Roy Wang, also known as Sibo Wang, a former rugby athlete turned international light-painting artist, was on Guam earlier this week, telling Guam News Network that he has always wanted to get to know the island and learn about its culture. He said he finds inspiration for his light paintings in nature, culture and people.
Wang was on Guam for a short two-day stay following an exhibition opening in Korea. He said he was captivated by Guam's “unparalleled” beauty and way of life. This was his second visit to Guam. During his first visit, he created “Guam Girl,” a light-painting work featured on his Instagram account.
On Monday evening, as the sun set, he demonstrated how he creates his artwork, using not paper or a pen, but instead light, a camera and darkness as his canvas.
"We use the camera and make the long exposure, and you use the camera to record the light trail. So, it's a light painting. We have a lot of different lights, we call brushes," he said.
He explained that the different brushes produce different effects on camera, allowing him to create almost anything using his imagination and muscle memory.
He first discovered light painting while training in Japan as a rugby athlete in 2010. He said he saw artwork by Pablo Picasso and immediately went to buy his first small flashlight at a convenience store after his rugby practice.
"Before I maybe make a dragon, make simple things, I need to spend many times 30 or 40 times to make one picture. But now, after practice it's more better and I enjoy.
Every light painting picture is different ... unique. So, I enjoy the moment when I create light art," Wang said.
What was once a hobby turned into his full-time job.
"When I go back to China, I can't believe light painting became my new career. I'm jumping from the sportsman to the artist. So, it's just fascinating. From that time on I just keep doing this," Wang said.
When he first started, light painting was not popular in China, he said, it used to be considered night photography.
"But now it's a light painting art because it's not only you capture, you have to create something in front of the lens, so that's the most amazing part," Wang said.
Monday evening, his demonstrated his art process, with flashes of light, he etched out latte stones, a ko'ko' bird, a whale, a Chinese Dragon, angels and even a nine-tail fox in the cover of darkness. His creations captured only on the camera's screen.
His work as a light painting artist has brought global attention as the record holder of four Guinness World Records in light painting, including the World's Largest Light Painting Pattern, World's Largest Light Painting, World's Largest Light Drawing and the Gold Prize of the Hans Christian Anderson Art Award.
He said he hopes to return to Guam and demonstrate his light painting skills for the community. His artwork can be viewed on his Instagram account roywanglightart.
