Figurative Paintings
Artist Statement
I was born in the countryside of Northeastern China. It remains in my fond memories of childhood that I could drawing pictures with considerable likeness such as the Monkey King Thrice Defeats the White Bone Demon. I realized later, during my professional life as an engineer, that at heart I am a great dreamer and my true passion is art. My engineering education at Northeastern University in China and art education at NSCAD University in Canada both contribute to the pursuit of realism in my art creation, my mathematical aptitude is always suited to the exactitude in my finely-detailed rendering in the portraits and other subject matter to withstand the most critical scrutiny.
In my paintings and drawings, I hold fast to the traditional values and craftsmanship with strict-discipline and imagination from both the Eastern and Western traditions. I am deeply impressed with breathtaking awe by the detailed renderings in the great masterpieces of the Renaissance and French Academy paintings as well as the ancient Chinese ink mountain paintings especially of the Tang and Song Dynasties. In my visit to all the museums and galleries, I always tend to be attracted by the figurative art works with finely-detailed realistic elements, and study meticulously the theme, concept and narrative behind a painting. I strongly believe through my own experience and knowledge that a representational painting especially portrait reveals the concentrative mind, the creative stamina, the resolute perseverance of the painter, a treasured quality of human spirit in the quest for precision, and considerable time investment with exciting anticipation of accomplishment. Even though I am fascinated by the works of the great masters of the past and strive to pursue skill-based artistic excellence as an integral part of my works, I am also captivated by the contemporary art movements of our time including those paintings with loose, abstract brushstrokes and impasto but powerful visual impact. Western figurative painters such as Kerry James Marshall, Jenny Saville, Dana Schutz, Kehinde Wiley, Nahem Shoa and John Currin engage me as do painters exploring personalized abstractions like George Condo, Amy Sillman and Cecily Brown. Chinese paintings especially those depicting the mountains, the clouds, the rivers and lakes, always remind me of the beautiful scenery with a Taoist and mystic atmosphere and the human-nature harmony and balance, inviting the viewers to feel the calmness and relaxation in Mother Nature. I would like to integrate these Eastern and Western visual languages on my paintings to give a totally different content and form. For this reason, I let my imagination fly freely in my creative vision, purposefully integrate in my figurative paintings and drawings different elements such as abstraction, surrealism, symbolism, collage and graphic effects, Eastern ink paintings, as well as other ongoing inspirations. All these above-mentioned visual elements exist both in harmony and discord in my paintings to exude beautiful, poetic and narrative effects like a multicultural symphony. My major interest in figurative paintings lies in the belief that the figurative paintings could ground me to reality with my understanding of humanity and human-nature harmony. I aim to uplift the spirit of the viewer with aspiration and purification of the soul beyond the carnal pleasures and material gains. All in all, the life journey pursuit in painting and drawing would allow me to enrich and keep my creative mind with critical sharpness both in sensibility and curiosity. Picasso once said: “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” I will make art as the companion of my life journey where I find a sacred haven for the tranquillity of the soul.
