Yan never forgot his roots. Born in Zhejiang province, he began to learn boxwood carving — his home province produced skillful artisans of the kind — at the age of 13 from famed carvers.
Several boxwood sculptures he made in France are also on show at the current exhibition.
During the decades he lived in France, he continued with this craft, a way to retain an emotional link with his homeland and also to source from Chinese elements.
