DVAA Member since 2024

Jianzhong Liu

About:

Liu Jianzhong, whose pen name was Gu Lao and Xing Hailong, was born in Jinan, Shandong Province, in December 1959. Learn painting at a young age. He began to create art in the late 1970s and became an integral member of Beijing's underground literary and art scene.In the early 1980s, he returned to Jinan and organized an underground salon to discuss philosophy and art.In 1985, Jinan Workers' Cultural Palace was transferred to the provincial newspaper as an art editor reporter.In 1984, he graduated from the Poetry Publishing Institute.In 1996, he graduated from Yang Gang Studio, Beijing Academy of Painting, majoring in contemporary art. Beijing Ancientry Art Gallery was founded in the same year.In 2005, the artist signed a contract with ONEMOON Gallery in Beijing. Collectors of Liu Jianzhong's paintings mainly come from the United States, Hong Kong, Australia and France.His art has been described as "loose, natural, and natural living."

Artist Statement:

Early artworks are concrete images representing conceptual painting. In the early 1980s I began writing and publishing poetry. These works significantly influenced my artistic concepts. During that period the techniques and creative thinking of realism were inadequate for expressing my inner emotions. I excel at modeling and color usage so I naturally gravitated towards abstract expressionism; I driven by a need to express personal emotions rather than by an academic interest in abstract art. This approach allows me to release my inner emotions. For instance: when painting people I am not satisfied with the realistic method of objectively reproducing the subject. Instead, I employ an expressionist approach to reflect my subjective feelings, capturing the essence, temperament, charm, and soul of the person. Before painting, I clarify my expressive direction, using the release and pouring of inner emotions as the creation's vehicle. The final effect of the artwork is unpredictable and evolves during the creative process until it aligns with my pre-determined goal. I choose ink painting as my medium because it aligns with my expressive purposes. While technique is crucial, it serves as a visual instrument for conveying thought. To me, ink painting is akin to storytelling—plain yet powerful, with the black ink symbolizing strong metaphors and an inherent vitality.