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The Chinese (Ningbo Beilun) Youth Lacquer Painting Exhibition hosted by the China Artists Association released its selected list on December 20. Two works of Guangzhou City University of Technology (GCUT) were selected, which were created by Li Ran, a teacher from the Product Design major of GCUT’s School of Jewelry, and Zhang Shuming, a teacher from the Visual Communication Design major of the same school respectively. This is a great breakthrough in the exhibition, symbolizing GCUT has made a steady progress in art education and creation.

The selected list

The Chinese (Ningbo Beilun) Youth Lacquer Painting Exhibition holds the balance of power in art circles. As a national professional exhibition, it serves as a symbol in the field of lacquer art, which attracts various talented Chinese young artists in the field to participate in. It has developed a strict evaluation process, whose jury includes experts and famous artists of the field. The jury deliberated each piece of work with their professional and vigorous standards to ensure that every selected work mirrors relatively high artistic proficiency, innovative idea and great virtuosity. The exhibition has presented abundant outstanding lacquer paintings for years, which reflects the creating style of contemporary young artists of lacquer paintings, but also functions as a significant momentum to promote the development of China’s lacquer art since a number of young artists distinguish themselves in art circles during the exhibition, thus wining recognition and appreciations in the field. It goes without saying that how great the significance of the exhibition to the inheritance and innovation of lacquer paintings is.

Li Ran’s selected work

Li Ran’s work entitled Placidness: The Plants and Trees Grow Full of Verdure integrates the beauty of nature and lacquer paintings. The painting focuses on the pacific natural scenery, enabling the description of “the plants and trees grow full of verdure” to come alive. Li Ran adopted methods that combine the unique texture of lacquer paintings and presentation techniques during her creation. She endeavored to create the layering and profundity of the scene starting from its primer, which seems that it makes the audience feel the serenity behind the grass and trees. As for the application of colors, she chose colors that are inconspicuous but connotative. Through mixing and overlaying different colors, it presents subtle changes of grass and trees under light and shadow. For example, when painting leaves, she adopted the technique of layering of light coating. In this way, these leaves reveal rich colors and textures, making the audience feel like that sunlight is filtering through leaves, or leaves are trembling in the breeze. Every brushwork and every overlaying of lacquer colors mirror Li Ran’s meticulous observation of nature and pursuit for lacquer paintings. The aesthetic conception of tranquility within her work is not only a description of natural scenery, but a seeking for inside peacefulness and truth of life, which demonstrates her profound artistic accomplishment and acute artistic sensibility.

Zhang Shuming’s work

True Oranges and Trifoliate Oranges created by Zhang Shuming presents unique artistic perspective and innovative idea. Originated from a Chinese allusion that “Oranges grown south of the Huai River are true oranges; once transplanted to the north of the river, they become trifoliate oranges”, the work is given a brand new visual presentation and profound meaning. Regarding the constituent of the painting, he adopted strong contrast techniques that make a comparison between true oranges and trifoliate oranges concerning their shapes, colors and living environments. Through the innovative application of materials of lacquer paintings, it seems that true oranges and trifoliate oranges are real since he added special materials to create the texture and shininess of fruit. As for the treatment of its background, he combined abstract and concrete methods to distinguish different places through simple lines, while creating the changes of environment through rich lacquer colors. The work will make the audience feel the deep shock, while it inspires them to take a deep dive into the cultural inheritance, influence of environments and the nature of things. Such attempt to combine traditional cultural elements with modern artistic techniques of lacquer paintings reveals his willingness to explore and innovative spirits, which also provides new ideas and serves a showpiece of the development of lacquer paintings in modern society.

GCUT’s School of Jewelry has always valued art education and the growth of its teachers. It plays an active part in creating an atmosphere of artistic creation, encouraging its teachers to carry out artistic practice and academic research apart from teaching. Furthermore, it provides various platforms for development and rich resources such as organizing different types of academic exchanges, inviting well-known artists for lectures and setting up special funds for creation. Works created by Li Ran and Zhang Shuming selected by the Chinese (Ningbo Beilun) Youth Lacquer Painting Exhibition prove that the School of Jewelry has insisted on the innovation of art education and the development strategies of teacher cultivation. The achievements not only glorify their art career, but set a good example to teachers and students of the school, inspiring more teachers and students to take an active part in the learning and exploration of art.