Renowned artist unveils classy collection

Liu Linghua, a well-known painter with a growing worldwide reputation, unveiled a special painting album to more than 200 guests in Hong Kong yesterday, including local government officials and other artists.

Liu, who is from Xi'an, Shaanxi Province in Northwest China, called the album "Famed over the APEC."

The album, a so-called super luxurious Chinese quintessence art album, was published by Shanghai Chinese Quintessence Art Co Ltd, a professional art company that manages Liu Linghua's works and derived works.

The company published the album in Hong Kong first in order to attract the attention of artists both from Hong Kong and overseas.

Liu has nurtured a personal and distinctive art style based on the color black, integrating both contents and techniques from traditional Chinese painting, and combining engraving arts and oil painting.

Historical value

Wang Jiamu, general manager of the art company, said Liu was designated as the only painting artist for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings that were held in Shanghai in 2001. The 26 paintings in the album were exhibited at APEC venues, which endowed his works with fairly unique historical value.

The "Century Rose" was especially created in 2001 for the Shanghai APEC Summit. The 21 blossoming roses work was a symbol of the 21st Century and it also was meant to represent the hospitable Chinese people who were welcoming distinguished guests from abroad.

The painting was hung in the lobby of the banquet hall at the Shanghai International Conference Center, the venue of the APEC Summit. It is said that the meeting organizers changed the scheduled routine so that the leaders of APEC members could pass by the "Century Rose" when entering the meeting place.

Liu's painting, "Lady White Snake," a character from "the Tale of Lady White Snake," was also displayed at the ceremony in Hong Kong.

It is regarded as another masterpiece of Liu's quintessence oil painting, presenting his concept of an integration of Chinese and Western painting styles and his deep understanding of the Peking Opera with a vivid presentation of the topic.

Sun Yi, chief operating manager of the Shanghai Chinese Quintessence Art Co Ltd, said her top goal is to use art to educate overseas Chinese and foreigners about China's reform and opening-up.

The company will donate copies of the album to more than 1,700 cultural organizations at home and abroad to promote cultural exchange between China and other countries.

The company also donated 20 embroideries of Liu's works to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Liu Jian, a senior official with Shanghai Administration for Culture, Broadcasting, Television and Movie, attended the ceremony. He said Liu's works reflect the integration of the Chinese and Western cultures.

He said he is especially interested in the Beijing Opera elements in Liu's works, adding that "he gives a new life to the Beijing Opera characters in the form of oil painting."

Liu also praised the Shanghai Chinese Quintessence Art Co Ltd's efforts in promoting the Chinese culture, especially the Chinese quintessence art, to the world.

Yang Zigang, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' office in Hong Kong, said it is the first time that he watches Liu's works.

"The ceremony is an significant initiative to help exchange Chinese culture with the world," he said.

Liu is the kind of artist who is never complacent with his current achievements.

He doesn't boast about his reputation but enjoys the meaning found in his art and the reaction of spectators. Liu hopes that spectators could understand his message, his zest for life and contributions to history.

The 26 pieces in the album are a collection of paintings that is one leaf of history in his life and a witness of his past achievements. He said the publication of the album a privilege to share with spectators and dilettantes.

Many exhibitions

Liu's works have been exhibited at many art fairs and expos in China and in other countries. He also had a solo exhibit at the National Art Gallery in China and in France and Japan.

The embroidery copy of his painting - "the Drunken Beauty" - is highly regarded and is owned by world-renowned artists and collectors.

In addition, the organizing committee of the 10th Shanghai International Film Festival and the executive committee of the 2007 Special Olympic World Summer Games chose the embroidery of "the Drunken Beauty" as a present to Timothy P. Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics Games, Don Mischer, a world famous film director, and Hollywood actress Sharon Stone.

In March 2002, Liu's paintings of Peking opera characters were some of the first pieces selected by the Chinese Ministry of Culture for the five-year Chinese Culture Project to help promote Chinese culture to the world.

(China Daily 12/19/2007 page19)