In Chinese painter Lesoul’s work, grand vistas of nature at dusk or dawn dominate the viewer’s sight. The world Lesouls conjures is calm. All is well; everyone has decided to settle in for the night, or they are just waking up, drinking their first cup of coffee, and slowly getting ready for their day. Here and there, miniature figures can be observed living in sparsely located houses. These characters live in harmony with nature around them, and traces of their activities barely leave a mark on their environment.
Lesouls' serene paintings come with a marvelous twist. He always adds flammable pigments or touch-sensitive light bulbs to illuminate certain objects in the painting—all to highlight what has been man-made in this otherwise natural environment. Lesouls often highlights simple human technology, such as fire and flower bouquets. He uses these elements to signal an existence where humankind and its technological progress are aligned with nature. In today’s world, where human technological innovation has brought rampant environmental destruction, their paintings by Lesouls promote a state of being that many can strive towards. Lesouls’ paintings are relevant today and tomorrow, for a better future on this lonely planet, as aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Life on Land and Climate Action.
For example, their painting Bonfire Boy shows a wide-open natural panorama at dusk. In signature Lesouls fashion, the sights look serene, with rolling mountains and grasslands swaying in the wind. In the painting's foreground, a single boy sits reading by the light of a bonfire. Lesouls has embedded a touch-sensitive lightbulb in the canvas. When talking about the piece, they ask their audiences to “Touch the bonfire gently with your hand,” so that the bonfire will light up the painting. This simple act brings joy and wonder to their viewers. It reminds them of the grand impact that the seemingly simple and human act of lighting a bonfire can have on the environment. It cautions people of the snowball effect that their daily decisions have made and will make on the environment.
This is crucial since approximately 62 million tonnes of electronic waste are produced every year, according to a 2024 UN report. This makes e-waste one of the fastest-growing forms of waste. Yet still, Lesouls’ paintings remain serene. They always showcase idyllic scenes, where nature becomes the focal point and human intervention is but a small candle in the vastness of the night sky. This symbolizes Lesouls’ belief in the power and might of Mother Nature, that it will persist despite human intervention. Hence, humanity must learn how to swim with the currents and learn how to make their technology and advancements aligned with natural cycles.
Lesouls’ paintings not only captivate with their serene and expansive landscapes but also provoke a deeper contemplation on humanity’s relationship with nature. By ingeniously incorporating light-up elements into his paintings, the work serves as a reminder of the delicate balance required by technological advancements to coexist harmoniously with the planet. In a world grappling with widespread environmental degradation, Lesouls encourages their audiences to reimagine their role in preserving the natural world for future generations.
Find out more about paintings by Lesouls and their other pieces and initiatives by checking their Instagram at @lesoulsart.