Chinese Oil Painting Ten: He Dalong

Author: Wang He
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The introduction of European oil painting to China initially was merely a new painting technique adopted and utilized by Chinese painters. However, after a century of exploration, oil painting has today become a language for Chinese painters to freely express their thoughts and emotions. Art knows no boundaries, and oil painting is a universally recognized category in the international art world. Yet, Chinese oil paintings created by Chinese artists carry unique cultural connotations of China. Through the "Chinese Oil Painting Landscape," one can see the history and rich content of real-life in China's social changes, and more importantly, witness the prolific nature of Chinese oil painting and the diverse personalities of its artists. In a sense, Chinese oil painting is a rich visual cultural reader of contemporary Chinese art. Selecting the works of ten Chinese oil painters for publication is a highly academic endeavor. These ten painters are representative figures from different periods in the mid-20th century, whether living in China or abroad, they have, through long-term exploration and accumulation, created distinctive artistic styles. Their works have had a significant impact on the international art community and the general public, and their artistic achievements have become representatives of China's exchanges with the world. The personal experiences and artistic orientations of these ten painters vary. In terms of themes, some focus on social phenomena, while others emphasize expressing psychological activities. In terms of artistic forms, some prioritize realistic depiction, while others lean toward abstract expression. However, their art shares a common cultural characteristic: based on the study of Western oil painting techniques, they integrate China's own cultural traditions, especially the concept of harmony between nature and humanity and the method of unifying the depiction of the external world with the expression of the inner world, thereby leaving a unique cultural imprint on their works. In today's context of economic globalization, the shared space for international art has expanded. These ten painters, in their unique artistic languages, embody the spirit of the times, humanity, nature, and trees, leaving an indelible mark on the history of contemporary art. The World Knowledge Publishing House has chosen these painters to promote the achievements of Chinese oil painting in international cultural exchanges. We believe that these artists' works, as representatives of Chinese art, will engage with audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds in broader cultural spaces, thereby achieving the purpose of connecting hearts and minds and enhancing cultural understanding.
He Dalong (1948–) is a native of Chengdu, Sichuan. In 1977, he enrolled in the oil painting program at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. In 1979, he joined the oil painting research class and, after graduation, engaged in oil painting creation at the Chengdu Academy of Fine Arts, where he is now a first-class art teacher. In 1980, his graduation oil painting, Spring Has Already Awakened, participated in the French Spring Salon Exhibition (held at the Louvre in Paris). In 1984, his oil painting Youth was selected for the Sixth National Fine Arts Exhibition, where it won a bronze medal. In 1985, he was invited by the Massachusetts College of Art in the United States to give lectures. In 1986, his oil paintings Old Wall and Spring Has Already Awakened were exhibited at the Second Asian Fine Arts Exhibition in Fukuoka, Japan. In 1987, his oil painting Xiao Zhai participated in the th Chinese Oil Painting Exhibition. In 1988, his oil painting Xiao Zhai participated in the Monte Carlo International Art Competition, where it won the Monaco Government Award. He was invited by the Fukuoka Art Museum in Japan to hold an individual exhibition, and his oil painting The Stolen Child was exhibited at the Seventh National Fine Arts Exhibition. In 1992, his oil paintings What Year Is This Tonight, Beach, and Wasteland participated in the Hong Kong·China Oil Painting Exhibition. In 1994, he held an individual exhibition at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing. In 1996, his oil painting Garden Proposal participated in the Shanghai Art Biennial Exhibition and the Chengdu Oil Painting Exhibition. In 1997, his series Back Window participated in the Prague Chinese Art Exhibition and later traveled to Lisbon, Portugal; his works Youth, Woman Standing by the Window, and Untitled were exhibited in the Centennial Exhibition of Chinese Portrait Art. In 2002, his works were included in the Chongqing Sichuan Fine Arts Institute's "Rethinking 77, 78" Art Invitational Exhibition. His works have won numerous awards and are widely collected by domestic and international art institutions and collectors. Many of He Dalong's works are not only aesthetically pleasing but also provide the possibility of reading, listening, and imagining while appreciating them. His creations are deeply connected to the music and poetry he loves. Music and poetry may not be his sources of inspiration, but they provide essential nourishment and validation for his artistic vision. He is always lonely, melancholic, and elegant, yet he always distances himself from the self formed by loneliness, melancholy, and elegance, becoming a dual hermit of both the world and the self. When viewing his works, one can feel a solitude pressing from all directions, because he never presents himself in the presence of his own works—he refuses to bear witness to our gaze and emotions.