Artist
    Zhonggui Shi was born in the Sichuan province of China and is a highly acclaimed artist who is well known both in China and abroad, where he has won numerous awards. In 1995, he was invited by the Japanese government to Tokyo, where he was received by the Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and put on a one-man exhibition at Ginza Art Gallery. He has also exhibited in Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and France, where in 2000 he was awarded the title of "Academician" by Academy of Arts-Sciences-Lettres of France, the first time the title had been awarded to an artist of Chinese citizenship since its founding in 1915. His works command high prices in China and he has been honored by the Chinese government through the release of a postage stamps bearing his image and recognizing is unique contribution to art.