Robert Wyland [Photo source: CRIENGLISH.com]

If you thought the Olympics was all about sport, think again. It's about the arts as well. Recently, an event titled "Hands across the Ocean" is held at the Jintai Art Museum in Beijing, where internationally-renowned artist Robert Wyland and children from all over the world celebrated the green Olympics with painting on canvas.

Wyland is an official artist of the United States Olympic team. He is best known for painting large, outdoor murals of whales and other oceanic life. His marine life murals have been seen and appreciated by more than one billion people around the world each year. Up until now, he has been engaged in monumental ocean paintings for 30 years. He says he has been longing to paint in China. He considers it important to create a painting that will inspire kids around the world to conserve and push for a green Olympics.

"It is a great challenge. We need courage, politicians; people of all of China have to have courage now because this century must be an environmental renaissance period. But here's the opportunity for all of China to come together, to join together, to protect the beautiful places in China, the air, the land, the water, not only for us, not only for the fish, but for these kids, for future generations. It may be the most important event in history. Right now, the whole world is watching how China brings the green Olympics and they want action. So I am here to support China's effort to protect the environment, through art and kids, we change the world."

The artworks created by Wyland and the children from China and other 205 countries depict a vivid picture of oceanic life. Each canvas is about 3 meters high and 15 meters long. On each canvas, we can see dolphins racing through open seas. Around them, there are other sea animals such as sea tortoises and octopus painted by the children. Wyland said he enjoyed working with children and invited CRI reporter to check out their work.

"I really like children because they are very passionate. They are intelligent. They are eligible. They care and they want to make a difference. My goal is to inspire children around the world to make a difference. They can help to protect the environment."

Wang Gaojie and Sun Mou are from Beijing's Huangcun Primary School. They tell us that they are happy to be involved in this activity. They also send their sincere wishes for the upcoming Olympics.

"To protect the environment, I think we should act rather than speak out meaningless slogans. I hope our country can host the most successful Olympics ever."

"This activity brings us closer to nature. Humans and animals are both living creatures on the earth. Green Olympics to me, means to protect the plants and animals. I wish our Chinese athletes can win as many gold medals as possible."

As the painting exchange is intended to recognize the beauty and importance of these national treasures and the role that children will play in protecting them in the future, more than 100 paintings, measuring over a mile, will be displayed at the river bank in Chaoyang Park, Beijing's largest. After the Olympics, the paintings will tour other parts of the world for public display.