Photo by Gao Erqiang / China Daily

But Zhu suggests that F.W. de Klerk, South Africa's last white president who won the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela, should have a larger part in the painting.

"We should not forget it was de Klerk who helped Mandela achieve his historic feat," he says.

Born in 1949 in Shanghai, Li had been a Red Guard during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) and was sent to Beidahuang in northeastern Heilongjiang province. After returning to the city, he studied painting and did graduate studies at the Central Art Academy in Beijing in the early 1980s. Most of his work has focused on reflecting on the "cultural revolution".

Li Gongming, an art history professor at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, speaks highly of Li Bin's history paintings.

"Li Bin held a critical attitude toward the 'cultural revolution' and tried to spark thinking and reflection about the period through his paintings," he says.

"History paintings involve a lot of research and investigation of historical materials. Li Bin is serious about the truth of history and always spares no effort to interview people and gather information on the topic he is painting.

"The fight against tyranny and the pursuit of freedom have been the themes that run through all his paintings."