China Oil Painting Ten: Luo Zhongli

Author: Wang He
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not Available
Features: Luo Zhongli's Father (1982): No one can forget this face lined with wrinkles. He is the spiritual father to both you and me, a witness to the vicissitudes of Chinese history, and a product of his time. After the era of "," people yearned for something deeper and more rooted in Chinese culture. In the early 1980s, the "rustic trend" became the fashion pursued by artists. Luo Zhongli, who was studying at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute at the time, emerged as a key figure. Coincidentally, hyper-realism in Western modern art became the most suitable reference for Father. Today, when facing Father, we still feel an intense sense of burning.
The introduction of European oil painting to China initially served as a new painting technique adopted by Chinese artists. However, after a century of exploration, oil painting has today become a language for Chinese artists to freely express their thoughts and emotions. Art knows no borders, and oil painting is a recognized category in the international art world. Yet, Chinese oil paintings carry a unique cultural essence. Through the "Chinese Oil Painting" landscape, one can see the history and richness of contemporary Chinese society, as well as 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 text of contemporary Chinese art.
Selecting works from ten Chinese oil painters for publication holds significant academic value. These ten painters represent different periods in the mid-20th century, whether they lived in China or abroad. Through long-term exploration and accumulation, they have created distinct artistic styles. Their works have had a profound impact on both the international art community and the general public, and their artistic achievements have become symbols of China's exchange with the world.
The personal experiences and artistic orientations of these ten painters vary. Some focus on social phenomena, while others emphasize psychological expression. In terms of artistic form, some lean toward realistic depiction, while others favor abstraction. However, their art shares a common cultural feature: grounded in Western oil painting techniques, it blends China's own cultural traditions, particularly 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. This gives their works a unique Chinese cultural imprint.
In today's era of economic globalization, the shared space for international art has expanded. These ten painters, through 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 exchange. We believe that these artists' works, as representatives of Chinese art, will engage audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds in broader cultural spaces, fostering dialogue and mutual understanding.
Luo Zhongli was born in the suburbs of Chongqing in 1948. Influenced by his father, he began painting in his childhood. After graduating from the secondary school of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in 1968, he voluntarily lived in the Bashi Mountains for ten years. In 1981, he graduated from the oil painting department of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and went to Europe for study in 1983. He became the president of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in 1998.
In 1980, Luo Zhongli, while still studying at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, gained fame with his hyper-realistic work Father. The monumental composition of the painting deeply portrayed the typical image of Chinese farmers, moving countless people. Luo Zhongli was hailed as a flagbearer of Chinese painting in the 1980s. Since the early 1980s, Luo Zhongli has consistently upheld the rural stance in oil painting. His early monumental hyper-realistic work Father once represented the artistic ideals and progress of an era. His recent works continue to deeply focus on Chinese farmers. The thick, rustic brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and unique lighting effects all convey the artist's profound emotions and deep care for his native culture.