TRADITIONAL CHINISE PAINTING
As the curtain rises on 2025, International Art Center · Athens with pleasure presents the "Traditional Chinese Painting" exhibition, a captivating tribute to the deep connection between humanity, nature, and cultural heritage. Exhibition period: 11. January 2025-18 February 2025. This exhibition offers an extraordinary exploration of timeless artistic traditions, seamlessly blending history with contemporary aesthetics.
The works on display have been carefully selected from years of artistic creation, offering a vivid tapestry of silkscreen prints and heavy-color paintings. Each piece invites reflection on the harmony between humanity and nature, the cycles of life, and the enduring legacy of traditional Chinese art.
Silkscreen Prints: A Tribute to Earth and Life
The silkscreen prints in this collection bring viewers closer to the land, drawing inspiration from the rhythm of farmland. These pieces celebrate the life cycle of crops—sowing, sprouting, flowering, fruiting, and wilting—symbolizing a complete, selfless system of existence. The fleeting beauty of this cycle encourages a profound appreciation for the earth and the farmers who nurture it. Through a balance of realistic depiction and subjective color expression, these works evoke the essential interconnectedness of all life.
Heavy-Color Paintings: A Legacy in Mineral Colors
The heavy-color paintings reflect the rich tradition of using mineral pigments—known as the semi-precious stones of art—that have illuminated Chinese art for centuries. From the painted pottery of Banpo to the ethereal murals of Dunhuang, mineral colors have shaped China’s visual heritage. The subdued hues and crystalline brilliance of these pigments lend an enduring vibrancy to the paintings, celebrating the earth’s vitality while offering a modern reinterpretation of ancient forms.
Li Junliang: A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation
Li Junliang is a distinguished Chinese artist known for blending traditional techniques with contemporary artistry. A graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), Junliang’s work bridges the timeless beauty of classical Chinese painting with modern aesthetics.
His paintings, often exploring themes of nature, humanity, and the passage of time, are marked by expressive ink washes and bold use of mineral pigments. His landscapes and figurative works evoke a serene harmony, while subtly reflecting on the impact of modern life on nature.
Junliang’s art offers a powerful narrative that connects Eastern tradition with Western sensibilities, celebrating China’s cultural heritage while inviting a global audience to engage with his vision. His innovative approach positions him as one of the prominent voices in contemporary Chinese art.
Li Mingyi, a renowned graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), is celebrated for her meticulous figure painting. Her works combine precision and elegance, creating vivid scenes that bridge the dreamlike and the real. Mingyi’s silkscreen prints and heavy-color paintings reflect her pursuit of harmony between technique and artistic expression. Her graduation piece Time was acquired by the CAFA Art Museum, further cementing her artistic legacy.
Li Xiantong, an accomplished landscape artist and CAFA graduate, brings his unique vision to the exhibition. Specializing in landscapes, Xiantong balances tradition with innovation, creating serene compositions that evoke timeless detachment. His works resonate with the sentiment of ancient poetry, celebrating the unity of humanity and nature.
