Zhang Liufeng, born 1979 - Awakening from Hibernation

Story

By Zhang Liufeng

Oil on Canvas

Mr. Zhang Liufeng is one of my favorite contemporary Chinese artists. I have several of his paintings in my own personal collection. I like his surreal subjects and I admire his great mastership in painting textures.

First Publication: January 2012
Latest Update: May 2013

Printmaker and Painter

However my first encounter with Mr. Zhang Liufeng was not for his paintings but rather for his capabilities as a printmaker. I remember well a series of lithographs titled 'Fortress Besieged'.

Only later I discovered this artist as a painter and since then I have been fascinated with his strong subjects, often a bit surreal. The influence of the Tibetan culture is obvious in his art works. For many Chinese artists Tibet has something mystical, a land of unspoiled purity, vast plains and full of mystery.

Tibetans may see this a bit different with the impact of immigration by Chinese settlers and the cultural and environmental damages that have been inflicted on this land under 50 years of Communist rule. But Zhang Liufeng's art is not political. He shows his surreal dreams in his compositions and without the inspiration that he has received by Tibet these paintings would not have been possible.

By Zhang Liufeng

Oil Painting on Canvas

Awakening from Hibernation

Master of Painting Textures

What I really admire so much about Zhang Liufeng's paintings is his mastership of painting textures. No matter if it is the fur of a goat or the thick leather jacket of a Tibetan shepherd girl, the artist gives you the perfect impression of just that. But when you look at the painting from very close you see just a few seemingly odd brush strokes.

Influenced by Isaak Livitan

Mr.Zhang Liufeng said that he was influenced by Isaac Ilyich Levitan (1860-1900), a classical Russian landscape painter. This artist worked a lot with moods. And that is something you can also feel about Zhang Liufeng's art. Indeed, he is a romantic guy. And that explains also his affection for the Tibetan landscape and culture.

Detail

By Zhang Liufeng

Awakening from Hibernation

2011 - Sketches from Tibet

In 2011 Mr. Zhang Liufeng made a trip to Tibet and came back with lots of sketches. This resulted in a number of new paintings. And one of his best new creations is Awakening from Hibernation.

2012 - Exhibition in Taiwan

This painting was originally planned to be exhibited in springtime of 2012 at an art exhibition in Taiwan. Due to our long-term relations with Mr. Zhang Liufeng he was so nice and made it available for our first Grand Auction of contemporary Chinese paintings in February of 2012.

External References for Zhang Liufeng

Isaak Levitan

Zhang Liufeng - Short Biography

Other Pages Related to Zhang Liufeng

• New Paintings by Zhang Liufeng
• Paintings by Zhang Liufeng
• Zhang Liufeng - born 1979

Author: Dieter Wanczura
.. more about Dieter Wanczura

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