Blazing a new trail of art

Liu Linghua, a native of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province in Northwest China, began learning traditional Chinese painting during his early years.

He majored in engraving at the Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts and devoted his life to the study of oil painting after his graduation. He spent over 10 years trying to combine Chinese painting, engraving and oil painting techniques. He gradually established his own style of oil painting.

His oil painting works have the rich colors of the Dunhuang Mural Art and also preserve the realistic characters of an oil painting. He absorbs the freehand brushwork in Chinese painting and blends the lines of engraving art. To a certain degree, Liu's oil painting is just unique.

Liu is good at painting characters of Peking Operas and flowers and plants. His representative works include "Century Rose" and "Drunken Beauty."

The "Century Rose" was created in 2001 when the world-renowned Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit was held in Shanghai. Liu painted 21 blossoming roses, as a symbol for the 21st Century, to greet the grand event in the new century.

The roses in the painting have thick and heavy colors with gushing enthusiasm, representing the hospitable Chinese people welcoming distinguished guests from abroad.

The painting was hung in the lobby of the banquet hall at the Shanghai International Conference Center where leaders of APEC member economies gazed at its unique style. The "Century Rose" was well received by the public.

The "Drunken Beauty" has won Liu Linghua the biggest fame with the painting of the imperial concubine Yang Yuhuan of the Peking Opera Guifei Zuijiu. The work was first exhibited at the APEC Shanghai venue and then in Paris, France and Tokyo, Japan stirring a sensation.

An embroidery piece of Liu's "Drunk Beauty" was selected by Shanghai Luwan District as an official present to Bruno Racine, president of the Pompidou Center's modern art museum in Paris.

In the China Luxury Summit 2006, the organization committee chose silver foil works of Liu's "Drunken Beauty" as gifts to VIP guests. The "Drunken Beauty" was also selected as the cover piece of the Oriental Cultural Card launched in Shanghai on New Year's Day this year.

Such an extraordinary promotion of a painting originated from the public's love for the quintessence as well as Liu's deep understanding for Peking Opera and vivid presentation of the topic.

Some critics said that the characters from Peking Operas painted by Liu Linghua have the strong flavor and penetrating air of the quintessence, which derive from his superb use of colors.

This is perhaps how Liu's oil paintings appeal to both refined and popular tastes and win much appreciation.

Liu Linghua often says that an artist should stand on the shoulders of many giants instead of only one.

He is very good at learning and making use of the strong points of all others, through which he develops and perfects himself. The one thing he now thinks about the most is how to outdo his own work. Such a spirit leads Liu Linghua to higher levels in the path of art.

(China Daily 11/28/2007 page18)