A Chinese New Year Residency in the Kwan Fong Gallery

On view February 10 – February 20 2015

Guest Curator: Aihua Zhou

Figurative realism has a long tradition in Chinese art, especially in ink painting, sculpture and ceramics. Over the past 100 years, many Chinese artists have also been influenced by Western studio practices, adapting oil painting and drawing techniques to new styles with both classical and contemporary elements. An exhibit of work investigating Chinese figurative art in the 21st century in cross-cultural contexts will be held in the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art, Chinese Figurative Realism Exhibit” Jan 22 – Apr 9.

We welcome visitors to the Kwan Fong Gallery to enjoy nine days of demonstrations by artists whose work is in the exhibit, including demonstrations by Nan Liu, Xu Weixin, Jove Wang, Mian Situ, Z.S. Liang, and Yu Ji.

Admission to the exhibit and the demonstrations are free.

The Kwan Fong Gallery, located in Soiland Humanities Center, is open to the public 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information, call Michael Pearce, curator, at 805-444-7716. Funded with the generous support of the CLU Artists and Speakers Series.

Artists in Residency and Schedule of Events

Nan Liu

Dr. Nan Liu began to study Chinese brush painting and calligraphy as a child and continued his education in the U.S. He has won several juried exhibitions for his still lifes, figures and landscapes and is an associate professor at Florida A&M University.

Tuesday, February 10
9:00 am ­- 10:00 am Nan Liu — Lecture: “Introducing Traditional Chinese Brush Painting”
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Nan Liu — Demonstration: Traditional Chinese brush painting

Wednesday, February 11
9:00 am ­- 12:00 pm Nan Liu — Demonstration: Traditional Chinese brush painting
1:00 pm ­- 5: 00 pm Nan Liu — Demonstration: Traditional Chinese brush painting

Xu Weixin

A professor at the School of Arts at Renmin University of China, Xu has won many Chinese national awards, and his works are exhibited internationally. His series “Chinese Historical Figures 1966–1976” was featured in Beijing’s Today Art Museum.

Thursday, February 12
9:00 am ­- 10:00 am Xu Weixin — Lecture: “Chinese contemporary art observation – thinking and practice”
1:00 pm ­- 5: 00pm Xu Weixin — Demonstration: Oil painting – The Miner

Friday, February 13
9:00 am -­ 12:00 pm — Xu Weixin — Demonstration: Oil painting – The Miner
1:00 pm ­ 5: 00 pm — Xu Weixin — Demonstration: Oil painting – The Miner

Jove Wang

After immigrating, Jove Wang began a career that has won him worldwide recognition. The California Art Club Signature Artist painted commissioned portraits of former Gov. Pete Wilson and others before focusing on China’s indigenous cultures.

Saturday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day)
9:00 am ­- 10:00 am Jove Wang — Lecture: “Art reflects personality” and book signing by Jove Wang
1:00 pm ­- 5:00 pm Jove Wang — Demonstration: Jove Wang, Oil painting, Mongolian bride (as a celebration of Valentine’s Day Jove Wang will paint a traditional Mongolian couple on the day of their wedding ceremony)

Monday, February 16
9:00 am ­- 12:00 pm Jove Wang — Demonstration: Jove Wang, Oil painting, Mongolian bride
1:00 pm – 5: 00 pm Jove Wang —Jove Wang, Oil painting, Mongolian bride

Mian Situ

Mian Situ immigrated after completing his formal art training. This California Art Club Signature Artist’s oil paintings depict Chinese villages, American landscapes and early 20th-century Chinese immigrants in San Francisco.

Tuesday, February 17
9:00 am ­- 10:00 am Mian Situ — Lecture: “Chinese immigration history and my art” and book signing by Mian Situ
1:00 pm ­- 5:00 pm Mian Situ — Demonstration: Mian Situ, Oil painting ­Chinese immigration in San Francisco in 1905 (Mian Situ will paint a Chinese model wearing traditional clothing)

Z.S. Liang

Z.S. Liang began focusing on Native American Indian cultures while studying and painting the Wampanoag Indians in Massachusetts. His award-winning paintings are in the permanent collections of the Autry National Center and Harvard University.

Wednesday, February 18
9:00 am ­- 10:00 am Z.S. Liang — Lecture: “American Indian Culture and my art” and book signing by Z.S. Liang
1:00pm ­- 5:00 pm Z.S. Liang — Demonstration: Oil painting – American Indian scene (Z.S. Liang will paint a Native American model wearing traditional clothing)

Yu Ji

While laboring in a remote mountain village during China’s Cultural Revolution, Yu Ji studied privately with respected painters. He later studied drawing and painting at universities in Beijing and New York. His works explore contemporary urban life.

Thursday, February 19
9:00 am – 10:00 am Yu Ji — Lecture: “American & Chinese street culture and my art”
1:00pm ­- 5:00 pm Yu Ji — Demonstration: Figurative drawing, composition in art

Sample of Work