Interactive artwork recognized by Guinness

chinadaily.com.cn

Two Guinness World Records — for the world's longest and largest anamorphic painting — were set on Wednesday in Chongqing Bestown scenic spot in Chongqing's Banan district. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Two Guinness World Records — for the world's longest and largest anamorphic paintings — were set on Wednesday in Chongqing Bestown scenic spot in Chongqing's Banan district.

A 688.293-meter-long three-dimensional painting — The Forest Rhapsody: Colorful Forest — created by Yang Yongchun, Wu Ailing and Yang Yuanyi — and the large 5,138.606-square-meter work, The Forest Rhapsody: Forest Adventure — created by Yang Yongchun, Wu Ailing and Zhu Yayun — have been recognized by Guinness.

The two paintings broke the previous record, which was set by a work in South Korea in September 2018. That piece is 553.8 meters long and measures 4,775.7 square meters overall.

The measurements were based on the surface area of the finished anamorphic works, according to Xiong Wen the Guinness certification officer.

Backed by Chongqing Bang Tian Agricultural Development Co., the anamorphic paintings were designed by Yang Yongchun, 45, who is known as the first professional anamorphic painter in China. Yang had previously achieved Guinness World Records titles for the largest and biggest anamorphic paintings created for the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in June 2014.

The design in Chongqing Bestown started to take shape in September 2018 and took nearly half a year to complete, with the help of around 10 artists. It was unveiled recently.

Yang and Wu Ailing, the founder of Chongqing Bang Tian, said several inspirations were undertaken by Fengsheng town and expressed in the massive artworks. The ideas was to demonstrate the relationship between human civilization and nature going from conflict to harmony, and to sharpen people's awareness of environmental protection and natural disasters.

Yang said there used to be a three-step hillside after a landslide. He made use of the existing landform and transformed it into Forest Valve, a three-section waterfall included in The Forest Rhapsody.

"There's another work here depicting a mud-rock flow scene. Visitors have a chance to melt into the background and record whatever they want," Yang said.

"Everyone is an artist in front of an anamorphic painting. Every artist is the last finishing touch of the artwork. The painting is finished only with people's participation in posing and shooting. Every act of participation presents a different final version."

Chongqing Bestown scenic spot, with an overall planning of 1,333 hectares and a total investment of 2.36 billion yuan ($36.54 million), is believed to be the first scenic spot with forest anamorphic art in China.