volume 4, number 1, 2009

About the cover artwork

Chen Ying Ying, Earthquake of Soul, 2008.

This painting was my response to the tremendous earthquake in Sichuan province, China in 2008. When this tragedy first hit China, for few days I was not able to express my grief for the thousands of lives lost in that country. The moment I sat down and started this painting, I was able to connect my soul to the devastating destruction of  my homeland and evaporation of human lives in the ongoing tragedy. 

Human lives have never seemed so vibrant and powerful to me before. They are like flowers that once flourished, then withered and finally evaporated into air while leaving the living mourning for them.