Fine Art Magazine - July 19 Edition

Often called the ‘Atlantis of the East’ by travellers, this 600 year old underwater city is a magnificent, mysterious time capsule of Imperial China. Shicheng – translated as Lion City - was deliberately flooded in 1959 to make way for the Xin’an Dam and its adjoining hydroelectric station, and then forgotten. In 2001, expeditions and underwater photographs revealed five entrance gates and wide streets graced by 265 archways, with stonework featuring lions, dragons, phoenixes and historical inscriptions dating back to 1368. The water has preserved the city beautifully, protecting it from erosion and extremes of weather, but in the absence of natural light it is hard to imagine it as a living metropolis brimming with life, vibrancy and colour. In this painting Phil has reimagined it on our behalf, diving to over 100ft, and painting the city on a dazzling array of colours, bathed in an almost celestial light. THE LOST CITY Canvas on Board Edition of 195, 20” x 20” £575 21 PHILIP GRAY NEW RELEASE