Feng Yuan's state of the art

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-10 11:35

Four Poets of the Tang Dynasty: (from left) Wang Wei, Du Fu, Li Bai and Bai Juyi.

Feng Yuan's work features the representational style of realism. As a contemporary painter, he poetically focuses on current issues. His art unites timeless thoughts, ideas and events that stretch beyond time and space, creating historic characters and themes.

Born in Shanghai in 1952, Feng showed his talent for fine art at an early age when he was at middle school. He continued to study independently for eight years. In 1977, he worked in an art studio in Liaoning province. One year later, he enrolled into the post-graduate class of Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, studying Chinese painting from the master painter Fang Zengxian.

From 1987 to 1999, Feng worked in the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts as an art teacher and later became vice president of the school.

Feng Yuan's state of the art

Buddhist Expectations in Snow Mountains. Paintings by Feng Yuan

In 1999 he was appointed director of the Department of Education, Science and Technology of the Ministry of Culture, and in 2000, director of the Department of Arts of the ministry. In 2003 he became curator of the National Art Museum. Since 2005, he has been the acting vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

He is a famous for his traditional Chinese paintings. His traditional Chinese art work such as Under the Apple Tree, Star Fire, Philosophy of Quyuan's Poems, Wisdom of the Century and others were selected in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth National Fine Arts Exhibitions, and won more than ten awards including golden, silver bronze awards and an award of merit.

Feng pays strict attention to details with his artwork. He often spent many days, even months perfecting certain techniques used in his paintings.

He is dedicated to self-improvement. Not only in his artwork but also in areas of history, literature, Chinese calligraphy and seal cutting.

Feng places great emphasis on the importance of painting subjects and style for the success of a Chinese painter.

"A successful artist is good at choosing a suitable subject and then using his own art language to elaborate it," said Feng.

His works can be found in the National Art Museum of China, the China Art Institute and American East Asian Art Museum as well as other institutes. He has been to many countries to participate in exhibitions. He features in publications such as the Famous Chinese Painters and Calligraphers and the Who's Who of American Biographical Center and so on.

Feng Yuan's state of the art

Illustrating a Poem of Wang Wei.

He has published more than 10 dissertations including Consciousness of Life to Esthetic Perception, Return to Simplicity, Inspiration of Modern Japanese Paintings, Find the Lost Spirit, Pursuit of Classic, 2003 Art Attention and Thinking and others.

His publications include Feng Yuan's Collection of Traditional Chinese Paintings, Feng Yuan's Selected Works of Ink Figure Paintings, Selected Works of Masters of Traditional Chinese Paintings-Feng Yuan, Course of Study of Ink Figure Painting, East Window Notes and Feng Yuan's Collection of Paintings, and others.

In recent years, Chinese contemporary art has witnessed dazzling prosperity and development in the areas of traditional opera, dancing, painting, photography and film, which has gained attention and recognition from all over the world.

Chinese contemporary art encapsulates some of the virtues of modern Western art. But, with the rich local cultural traditions, Chinese artists are also able to bring about their unique brand of creativity.

Much effort has been made through governmental policies to develop and promote art in China. Unofficial figures suggest thousands of art galleries have opened in the country, most of which are in economically and culturally developed cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.

Conservative estimates suggest that about 10 billion yuan finds its way into the art market each year.

China's art gallery industry hit a milestone in 2004, when it first came under the regulation of the industry and commerce administration. The same year also saw the successful hosting of China's First International Gallery Exposition.

Although the event lagged behind established international galleries, it still drew international attention to China's burgeoning art market. At the Second China International Gallery Exposition held in May 2005, 92 galleries from 15 countries and regions took part, over two-thirds of which were reputable galleries from abroad.