ZIMING LI
When he was young, he was not good at speaking, but he had a special love for doodling.
Every time he returned to his hometown during the Chinese New Year, he would draw window decorations for the villagers with his mother. After he started elementary school, he not only enjoyed creating bulletin board art for his own class, but also enthusiastically took on the task of creating bulletin boards for other classes, and even won awards from the school for his work.
Zhang, the teacher who taught him to sing, recognized his artistic talent and recommended him to her husband, Junqing Huang, who graduated from the Shanghai Fine Arts Academy and worked as a graphic artist for a movie theater. Ziming then became Huang's apprentice and learned basic painting during his free time.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ziming Li is an oil painting artist born in 1950 in a rural village in Yulin. He had a passion for drawing from a young age, and he would often draw and create artwork during his free time. His talent was recognized by his teacher, who recommended him to her husband, a professional artist, for further instruction. However, due to family financial difficulties, he was often forced to work in the coal mines with his sister to help support his family.
Despite his family's financial struggles and his own limited opportunities, Ziming continued to pursue his passion for art. He taught himself to draw, using nature and his surroundings as his inspiration. During the Cultural Revolution, when schools were closed, he continued to draw and create artwork on his own. He eventually found work at a local carpet factory, where he created designs and samples.
Later, he was sent to work in a remote area as part of a labor team. During this time, he continued to paint and draw in his free time, earning extra work points by painting furniture and other items for his team. His experiences during this period helped shape his perspective and influenced his artwork.
Today, Ziming Li is recognized as one of China's most prominent contemporary artists, known for his paintings, sculptures, and mixed media works. His art often incorporates traditional Chinese elements and reflects his own personal experiences and observations of the world around him.
“His works have a heavy brushstroke and bright colors and integrate Eastern and Western concepts, combining realism and freehand brushwork to form a unique artistic language, presenting a realistic and romantic expression and artistic pursuit. His works have a solid foundation, keep up with the times, and not only pursue the recognition and expression of color in the traditional Impressionist school but also emphasize the subjective and painting consciousness of Chinese freehand brushwork in modern times.
Both his character and landscape works can feel his pursuit and exploration of artistic spirit and connotation. Mr. Liu Wenxi once said that a true painter first remembers the people, loves the people and creates for the people. This is fundamental that a true artist should be a rich and active thinker who cares about the people, and society, has keen insight and has the ability to distinguish right from wrong, good from bad, and beauty from ugliness. Ziming has achieved both of these points.”
Rongmin He, the former vice president of Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts and the vice president of the Yellow Earth School Research Institute