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Noted Chinese painter creates symbolism-rich hull art for Norwegian Joy

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Tan Ping and his phoenix-inspired design for Norwegian Joy's hull art
Chinese artist Tan Ping looked to the phoenix, a mythical bird that's ubiquitious in Chinese culture, in designing the hull artwork for Norwegian Joy.

'The phoenix symbolizes beauty and good luck in Chinese culture, and Norwegian Joy will bridge across the West and the East and bring Chinese people's best wish to the world and everyone in her path,' Tan Ping said.

Norwegian Cruise Line's ship customized for Chinese travelers will begin operating in Shanghai next summer. The vessel also will cruise from Tianjin (Beijing).

A painter, printmaker and educator, Tan Ping led and directed a team of designers from the Central Academy of Fine Arts to complete the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games' Image and Landscape Design Project.

The artist's abstract paintings and copper plate etchings are in the collections of The National Art Museum of China, Portland Art Museum in the US, Germany's Ludwig Museum and the Shanghai Art Museum.

Tan's modernistic design for Norwegian Joy's hull art is simple and graceful, with flowing lines that convey forward movement. The dominant colors are red and yellow. In China, red signifies joy, a perfect match with the ship's name. Yellow represents grandeur. The design also includes hints of blue, signifying the sea.

Red, yellow and blue are primary colors, the starting point for all other colors in the spectrum of visible light. Through this subtle reference, the artist seeks to evoke 'an auspicious beginning to an unforgettable voyage.'

The hull art is by far Tan Ping's largest canvas, and he said that by traveling on Norwegian Joy, it's also likely to reach a far greater number of viewers than any of his previous works.