Photo provided to China Daily

Mu moved to New Zealand in the 1980s with his family, carrying with him more than 40 paintings. However, it didn't take long for him to find that it was extremely difficult for a Chinese painter to be accepted by the local art market.

"Art is like DNA for a people. You can share technology, but you can't always share art," Mu, 70, says.

Mu did all kinds of odd jobs to support his family in Auckland, including working as an interior decorator and a street painter.

After retiring, he shifted his focus to painting.

Mu says he doesn't bring social events into his painting, but his focus is more on his inner thoughts and emotions.

"As I aged, I started to think more of the olden days. I want to leave something behind," he says.

sunyuanqing@chinadaily.com.cn