Shi Lu’s Paintings and Sketches (1959-1964)

        The exhibition Shi Lu’s Paintings and Sketches (1959-1964) will be opened on 8th Aug. at Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy, and will last to 22nd Aug. The exhibition is hosted by China Artists Association, National Art Museum of China, Beijing Artists Association, Beijing Fine Art Academy, Shanxi Province Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Shanxi Province Artists Association, China Arts& Entertainment Group and organized by Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy. About two hundred paintings and sketches which were drawn from late 1950 to early 1960 will be displayed on the exhibition.

         Shi Lu is a famous artist in 20th century, he has passed away for 30 years, the exhibition is also a memorial activity for the genius artist. Born in a wealthy family in Sichuan province, he left hometown to Yan’an and became a revolutionary artist. His betray of family reflects his distinguish personal character; his experience also formed his art style and eventually became a great artist.

         The exhibition divided into three parts: plateau style, revolutionary style and traditional style, these paintings and sketches mostly finished during 1959 to 1964, for example Turn to Shanbei, Horses Besides River, Dawn etc. This is not only a vintage period for Shi Lu, it is also the first golden period of Chinese painting since the establishment of China. Audience can find Shi Lu’s wisdom in his sketches and find the hint how he formed these conceptions; his paintings will inspire us a lot.

         Though the exhibition, we can find how the artist deal with the relationship between life and art, tradition and revolution, and find some discipline. Besides, great artist always has close relationship with local culture. As a revolutionary artist, after establishment of P.R.China, Shi Lu stayed at Xi’an, and maintain good relationship with plateau, he developed friendship with Zhao Wangyun who is good at painting sketches in border. These north-west artists influences each other and inspires each other and claimed “towards life and tradition”, they created “Chang’an style” and made contribution for Chinese art history.