It was 101 years ago, at the time of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95, when China was victimized by the great powers and the Qing dynasty tottered on the brink of collapse, that Dr. Sun Yat-sen concluded that only revolution could save China. Thus he founded the Hsing Chung Hui (Society for the Revival of China) in Honolulu, Hawaii, and began his revolutionary career. After a century of global turmoil, his thought seems more profound and learned than ever. Sun dedicated his life to the welfare of the Chinese people. His thought and his character are an example for all the "descendants of the Yellow Emperor."

I am an artist from mainland China. I have the deepest respect for Dr. Sun, and, through 40 days and nights of unremitting labor, produced a wax image of Dr. Sun. My whole family had a photo taken with the wax statue so as to commemorate his birth.

Wax art has been practiced in Europe for more than a century, but in the mainland it has only recently taken its first few steps. Most practitioners have little skill or training, and they are mostly in it for profit, so that most of the wax statuary around today is crude and inappropriate. At the most basic level, people can get away with this when representing deceased heroes of the past for whom there is no photographic record. But for modern subjects whose photos are available, such inferior work is an insult to viewers, bringing to mind the expression, "It's easy to portray a ghost, hard to portray a man."

I have studied art for more than 30 years. I most favor the realist style, and I most love wax art because its rigorous demand for authenticity closely fits my own conception of art. I have always been attracted by the idea of imitating the Creator and producing an image exactly like the real object. Over the past several years I have dedicated myself to study and research on my own, groping my way forward without the benefit of any techniques or information to which to refer. Many problems have arisen for me to solve: How can two dimensional photographs be reproduced in three-dimensional space? How can the posed, forced composition of historical photographs be converted into realistic, vital forms and expressions?

A person's character as it is expressed in gestures and expressions derives from his or her thought and personality. The portraitist must understand the individual's background, history, thought, and personality. Only through the most acute and sensitive empathy and observation can one grasp the spirit, nature, and soul of the figure to be portrayed and thus recreate the flesh-and-blood historical person.

Before beginning work on a wax figure of Dr. Sun, I first collected numerous photographs of him. I closely observed his bearing, demeanor, and facial expressions at all ages, from all angles, and in different settings. I continually weighed and compared these, trying to decide which parts of which photos--which expressions, which gestures--I should work from to produce a single, authentic image of Dr. Sun. The work would have to capture him in all his guises--as a thinker, as an activist, as a revolutionary, as the leader of our nation. How could a piece be produced that would be him, and decidedly him, from whatever angle it was looked at?

Sun had a very impressive character, so his wax figure would also have to be impressive. His face was at once calm and determined. It combined both strength and compassion, which in a face with Asian features creates a unique look different from similar qualities in faces of other groups. The appearance of strength is not marred by any of the typical politician's heartlessness, while the appearance of wisdom carries none of the calculating self-interest often evident in intelligent people. He devoted his life to a higher purpose, but did not give the impression--as saintly figures often do--of being unapproachable or larger than life. He looked warm, friendly, and concerned. These things can all be seen through his eyes and the corners of his mouth. He was a great figure, filled with a sense of justice, warmth, charity, universal love, strength, and wisdom. Deeply moved by all of these traits, I dedicated myself to molding his image.

This wax figure will be displayed in the "Wax Museum of Great Figures of Twentieth Century China" in the mainland. I am taking advantage of Sinorama's "Life Overseas" column to express the hope that all we "descendants of the Yellow Emperor"--on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and around the world--can fondly reminisce on this great historical figure on the 139th anniversary of his birth.

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This detail from the wax figure shows the artist's skill.

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Is Dr. Sun Yat-sen Still among us? With a new family to boot? Look closely!

Is Dr. Sun Yat-sen Still among us? With a new family to boot? Look closely!