Special Report: Reconstruction After Earthquake

    BEIJING, April 21 -- Liu Sanduo, the famous Hubei painter, composes a huge piece of Chinese painting named "Rock," which is nearly complete, marking the May 12 Sichuan earthquake.

    The work is 6.1m in length and 2.44m in width, and is shaped like China.

    Liu, who is expert in stone painting, is a researcher at the Painting and Calligraphy Academy of Central Research Institute of Culture and History in China.

    After the earthquake last year, Liu came up with the idea of embodying the spirit of earthquake relief in the artistic image of rock. Only rock, he thought, was indestructible.

    Soundbite ：Liu Sanduo I'm used to sleeping after 3 o'clock in the late night and getting up for painting very early in the morning. I'll take a rest when I feel tired and re-engage in working as long as I feel even a little bit refreshed.It is the spirit of earthquake relief that supports and accompanies me during the creating period.

    Liu chose 30 pictures out of more than 1000 news photos of the quake and embossed them on the huge rock.

    In the middle of the rock is Premier Wen Jiabao's inscription, "More difficulty makes prosperity."

    And there are also pines, clouds and rays of sunshine, taken from oil painting techniques.

    Soundbite：Liu Sanduo Going through the May 12 quake, we Chinese people are solidified firmly like rock, with the earthshaking spirit of earthquake relief. That's why I want to concentrate this large spirit, by which the Chinese people stride out of the woe, in one picture.

    Liu aims to complete the work by the quake's first anniversary.

    Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Wenchuan

    (Source: XHTV)