Animalistic China
Qi Baishi was a Chinese painter, noted for the whimsical, often playful style of his works. Born to a peasant family from Xiangtan, Hunan, Qi taught himself to paint, sparked by the Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden. After he turned 40, he traveled, visiting various scenic spots in China. After 1917 he settled in Beijing. Some of Qi's major influences include the early Qing dynasty painter Bada Shanren (八大山人) and the Ming dynasty artist Xu Wei (徐渭).
The subjects of his paintings include almost everything, commonly animals, scenery, figures, toys, vegetables, and so on. He theorized that "paintings must be something between likeness and unlikeness, much like today's vulgarians, but not like to cheat popular people". In his later years, many of his works depict mice, shrimp or birds. He was also good at seal carving and called himself "the rich man of three hundred stone seals" (三百石印富翁). In 1953, he was elected president of the China Artists Association (中國美術家協會).
Xu Beihong (Chinese: 徐悲鴻; Wade–Giles: Hsü Pei-hung; 19 July 1895 – 26 September 1953), also known as Ju Péon, was a Chinese painter.
He was primarily known for his Chinese ink paintings of horses and birds and was one of the first Chinese artists to articulate the need for artistic expressions that reflected a modern China at the beginning of the 20th century. He was also regarded as one of the first to create monumental oil paintings with epic Chinese themes – a show of his high proficiency in an essential Western art technique. He was one of the four pioneers of Chinese modern art who earned the title of "The Four Great Academy Presidents".
Zhū Dā (Chinese: 朱耷) was a Chinese painter, poet and calligrapher of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Known by the pseudonym Bada Shanzhen (Chinese: 八大山人), the man from Mount Bada.
Bada Shanren belonged to the imperial family of the Ming Dynasty, but chose to become a Buddhist monk and led a reclusive lifestyle. His artistic style was characterised by a unique combination of traditional Chinese ink painting techniques and bold, expressive brushstrokes. Bada Shanren's works often depicted landscapes, birds, flowers and animals, demonstrating an exceptional ability to convey the essence of the natural world. His paintings reflected a sense of spiritual introspection and a deep connection to nature. Despite the turbulent times in which he lived, Bada Shanren's artistic legacy remains highly regarded and his works are still considered masterpieces of Chinese ink painting.
Lee Man Fong (Chinese: 李曼峯; pinyin: Lǐmǐnfēng) was a Chinese-born Indonesian artist known for his striking large-format genre portraits and animalistic scenes. His work is represented in a large number of prestigious art museums and collections around the world.
Gu Jianlong, born in 1606, was a prominent Chinese painter and draughtsman known for his mastery in portrait painting. From Suzhou Taichang, Gu Jianlong served as a court artist in the 1660s-70s, during which he painted portraits of Qing emperors and members of the imperial family. His work is best recognized for its detailed and evocative portrayal of historical subjects, portraits, landscapes with figures, and other thematic elements that vividly depict the era's cultural and social aspects.
His life and work spanned the transition from the Ming to the Qing dynasty, a period of significant cultural and political change in China. This context is reflected in the style and subjects of his paintings, which offer a unique window into Chinese history and art.
Gu Jianlong's artworks are held in high esteem and are part of prestigious collections, including those at The British Museum and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. His works, such as "Studies of Figures with Carts," "Tree Studies with Pagoda," and "Mountain Waterfall with Village," demonstrate his versatility and skill in using traditional Chinese painting techniques. These pieces, along with others like "Cliffs," "Trees Rocks and Bridge," and "Portrait of Ma Shiqi (1650-1714)," showcase his ability to capture both the natural world and human subjects with equal finesse.
For collectors, auctioneers, and art experts, Gu Jianlong's works represent an important part of Chinese art history. His paintings not only exhibit technical skill but also offer insights into the cultural and historical context of his time.
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Li Tianbing is a Chinese artist. Li Tianbing’s body of work is characterized by the dual influence of the Far-East and the West: the first being a legacy of Chinese painting imbued with Taoism, the second coming from the teachings of art professors such as Vladimir Veličković, Christian Boltanski and Giuseppe Penone while he studied at the Fine Arts School in Paris. His work was marked by a pivotal moment in 2006, when he compiled a family album comprising portraits of him as a child, for the purpose of denouncing the one-child policy, thus depicting an imaginary family through replications of himself. He henceforth developed a new visual language in which portraits abound, creating through his art a dialog between reality, imagination and fantasy. When working on his compositions, Li Tianbing essentially uses oil paint; however, another of his main means of expression remains drawing with Indian ink. He also enjoys working with watercolours, alternating between Chinese and European paintbrushes.
Tian Shiguang was a distinguished Chinese artist, celebrated for his modern meticulous flower and bird paintings. Born in Leling, Shandong province, he spent his life in Beijing's Liulang village, contributing significantly to the Asian Modern & Contemporary art scene. His works, which have fetched prices ranging from modest to nearly a million USD at auctions, reflect his dedication to the traditional themes of Chinese art, imbued with a modern sensibility.
Tian's artistry was not confined to canvases but extended to the grandeur of public spaces. His creations grace the National Art Museum of China, the Great Hall of the People, and Tiananmen Square's Zhongnanhai Ziguang Pavilion, among other significant cultural institutions. His meticulous brushwork and vibrant compositions have been exhibited internationally, showcasing the universality and enduring appeal of his artistic vision.
For art collectors and enthusiasts, Tian Shiguang's paintings represent an intersection of classical Chinese technique and modern expression. His pieces are a testament to the rich cultural heritage of China and offer a unique investment in both aesthetic beauty and cultural significance.
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Walasse Ting (Chinese: 丁雄泉, pinyin: Ding Xiongquan) was a Chinese-American visual artist and poet. His colorful paintings have attracted critical admiration and a popular following. Common subjects include nude women and cats, birds and other animals.
