ArtDayMe: Azadeh Jafarian: In a dazzling celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, the renowned light painting artist Roywang illuminated Dubai with a spectacular light painting of a dragon. The event, coinciding with the Chinese Year of the Dragon in 18 may, 2024 . 

Roywang, who holds three Guinness World Records and is recognized as China’s premier light painting artist , created the world’s first 6,000-square-meter China-UAE light-painted dragon. The masterpiece, which symbolized the friendship between the two nations, was set against the backdrop of the beautiful Dubai skyline. Using car lights as his medium and the open space next to the Dubai Canal as his canvas, Roywang collaborated with GAC, the first Chinese car brand to advertise on the Burj Khalifa.

The dragon featured a Chinese dragon head seamlessly blended with an Arabic dragon body, embodying the artistic elegance of both Chinese and Arabic calligraphy. The headlights of three GAC vehicles—M8, EMPOW, and EMZOOM GS3—formed the dragon’s head, body, and tail, respectively. The integration of these elements highlighted the cultural ties and artistic synergy between China and the UAE, while showcasing the GAC brand.

The event received approval from Dubai Culture, with Khalil Abdulwahid, Director from the fine arts Department, in attendance. He expressed his awe at the innovative combination of cars and light painting, as well as the cultural fusion represented in the artwork. He also noted that Roywang’s status as a UAE Golden Visa artist signified the recognition of his light painting art in the Middle East, and expressed hopes for future artistic collaborations.

In addition to the dragon, Roywang created a series of light painting images featuring Dubai’s landmarks intertwined with Chinese elements, such as dragon totems and lion dancing. These artworks aimed to convey the charm of both Dubai and Chinese culture to a global audience.

This event was part of Roywang’s “Dragon Soaring Around the World” global art creation plan, which seeks to highlight Chinese culture on the world stage. By merging Western technology with Eastern art, Roywang aimed to foster a deeper global appreciation of Chinese technology, culture, and art.