Ocean Park supports conservation with Henry Ward's panda portrait

Ocean Park has partnered with British artist Henry Ward (pictured second right) to unveil a new painting, Ying Ying’s Miracle, featuring giant panda mother Ying Ying and her twin cubs, Jia Jia and De De (Elder Sister and Little Brother).

The painting powerfully conveys themes of maternal affection, family bonds, the delicate balance of the natural world, and the vital cause of conservation.

Ying Ying’s Miracle serves as an inspired bridge between Eastern and Western aesthetics. Its design draws deeply from the distinctive elegance of the Coromandel screen and the traditional Asian use of non-convergent perspective, gracefully interwoven with Western figurative painting traditions to create a compelling visual narrative.

To capture the pandas' essence, Ward dedicated himself to the project, starting with a visit to see Ying Ying and her cubs up close in March 2025. Crafted in oil on canvas, with five months’ work, the piece expertly employs classical chiaroscuro, whilst simultaneously honouring Eastern principles of equilibrium, profound symbolism and universal harmony.

Ying Ying is depicted with a conscious awareness of the viewer, engaging their gaze, whilst De De is playfully alert and Jia Jia is in blissful repose. The scene captures a fleeting, tender moment of intimacy and unity before the young pandas develop their naturally solitary, territorial and elusive traits.

Ying Ying’s Miracle is available for acquisition, with net proceeds dedicated to supporting Ocean Park’s conservation and education work.

“We are very grateful to Wendy Lo for this exceptional gift, and to Ward for his remarkable artistry,” said Ivan Wong, chief executive of Ocean Park Corporation. “Ying Ying’s Miracle is an inspiring symbol of the cherished family bonds and inherent beauty of the natural world. By showcasing Ying Ying and her adorable cubs, Jia Jia and De De, this painting serves as a powerful reminder of our ongoing commitment to protecting precious species."

“The painting will be available for acquisition with the net proceeds directly bolstering Ocean Park’s conservation and education programmes, enabling us to continue our vital mission of safeguarding biodiversity for future generations," he added.

Ward commented on the inspiration behind the piece: “I’ve painted icons of humankind, such as Queen Elizabeth II, and pandas are also icons — but of the natural world. It was a huge privilege — but also a professional and personal challenge — to conserve the unique essence of Ying Ying and her cubs on canvas. I hope when people look at it, they will feel the same mix of emotions that were stirred in me.”

Ward added, “This work represents a fusion of Eastern and Western languages — a celebration of the miracle of the twins’ birth and a reminder that when we dissolve cultural boundaries and work together, we can create beauty with real-world positive consequences. Conservation is that shared goal.”

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Ocean Park for more information. 

This comes after Ocean Park welcomed the birth of Jia Jia and De De, the first-ever giant panda twins in Hong Kong, in 2024. In 2025, they made their first public appearance alongside their mother Ying Ying in the panda enclosure at Ocean Park.

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