“Flooding the Forbidden City”
Paintings by

Chen Lianqing
 

23^rd May – 13^th June 2007

Having recently moved to a spacious 3,000 sq. ft. location on Lyndhurst Terrace, Yan Gallery is pleased to present its inaugural exhibition entitled, “Flooding the Forbidden City”, featuring a collection of oil paintings by the mainland Chinese artist Chen Lianqing.  This is Chen’s first exhibition in Hong Kong.

Chen’s paintings are highly distinctive.  Using a palette of only a handful of colours he depicts scenes of historic and cultural significance, which are invaded by a mass of tiny orange figures.  Using a monochrome grey to depict the background, his paintings are brought to life through the vibrancy and humour of the small characters.  Several paintings show scenes of a flooded Forbidden City.  Dozens of small figures swim around, some jumping off the buildings, some clambering up, pulling things down, and generally misbehaving.  These small figures represent the mass of humanity that is China today, their joviality and irreverence towards symbols of authority a sign of the changing times. 

Chen was inspired to paint this series of works after his own hometown in Sichuan Province was flooded in the great Three Gorges dam project a few years ago.  “If the Three Gorges can be flooded, then why not the Forbidden City?” is the rationale behind his thinking.  Having lived close to a large river in his youth, where flooding was an annual occurrence, the motif of water plays an important role in his works.

Chen’s sense of humour combined with his ability to convey his feelings regarding very real issues, make these works highly dramatic and compelling.  Many Chinese artists today merely mimic the suffering felt by others or blindly copy the works of Western artists, but Chen’s works display a strong sense of integrity.  His art conveys his own understanding of life and this truthfulness shines though, elevating his works above those of his peers.

Chen was born in Chongqing in 1967 and is a graduate of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, graduating from the Chinese Painting Department with a BFA in 1989.  After leaving the Institute he spent several years working in design and architecture.  His meticulous depictions of monumental buildings reflect his experience in this field, his knowledge of the common man, such as the lowly construction worker, is conveyed with candor.  His paintings are a serious comment on the social and economic issues that he has faced and which the people of China are facing today.

Chen has held several group exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai and Zhejiang as well as solo exhibitions with prominent art galleries.  In 1997 his works were exhibited in six European countries.  He now lives and works in Beijing as a full time artist.

To view the exhibition please click here.

To view available paintings please click here.

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