Liu ZhengYong
We met Liu Zhengyong, directly in his studio in Songzhuang, close to Beijing. Expressionist artist, specialized in oil painting, he magnifies bodies and faces.
When he was very young, he dropped into a fire pit, and he almost died in the accident. He was recovered after several years of treatment, but some scars were left. He was deeply struck by this accident, which drove him to become a little introverted.
He spent his childhood playing in the forest or near the river. He started to create many objects with nature elements and finally discovered oil painting.
He does not feel oil painting as a Western technique, but as a process and result able to transmit his understanding. As for himself, the aim of art is not to be aesthetic but to transmit an emotion that could be felt by everyone.
Great Fable (240x220), Oil Painting on Canvas, 2008
During a long time, Liu Zhengyong was tortured by the purpose and essence of painting. He traveled a lot in China, and all the artworks he saw did not convince him. When he came back to his studios, he destroyed and burnt all his previous works and finally felt released.
Then, he decided to create five paintings that should clarify what painting would be for himself. In case of failure, he would have definitively stopped painting.
Lucky for everyone, after these five creations, an intense expression was delivered, he succeeded to catch what he wanted to express, and he kept on painting !
Liu Zhengyong focuses on human bodies, most of which are sculptured busts. From frustrations to flaming emotion, each figure can be linked with a special background and a unique style. They are immune from reference to others. The body with the constantly simple and natural contour highlights the staunch background without any clear meanings.
The artist highlights the perception of the body with the thickness and strength of expressive colors, with the light and darkness, with emotion and energy.
Sensuous Body (200x170), Oil Painting on Canvas, 2017
He has painted many figures and portraits. All of them are people around him. Because they know and understand each other well, he can catch the emotions of his friend or himself and transmit it into his paintings. From frustrations to flaming emotion, each figure can be linked with a special background and a unique style.
Amnesia Series (180x160), Oil Painting on Canvas, 2017
The Sky (100x180), Oil Painting on Canvas, 2010
Self portrait of the Artist
Sensuous Body (160x120), Oil Painting on Canvas, 2015
Such strength of emotional loads leads to an unparalleled modernity and endows Liu Zhengyong an artistic language that carries meaning beyond time and place.
Inductive Body Series (260x220), Oil Painting on Canvas, 2017
CV
1980 Born in Hunan Province.
2004 Graduated from Oil Painting Department at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts
Main Solo Exhibitions
2016 New forms of movement Ode To Art Gallery .Art Stage Singapore
2015 Rhizoma, Ying Gallery Beijing China
2014 Liu Zhengyong Solo Exhibition Sete France
2012 Who's sky Beijing 110 Gallery Beijing China
2012 Sentinelles, Montpellier France
2011 Lyon Biennale, Lyon France
Main Group Exhibitions
2015 China-Korea Youth Artists Exhibition Korean Cultural Center of China Beijing China
2014 Biennale China-Italia (China BeiJing 。Italia)
China Youth Contemporary Art （Asian Museum in Nice, France）
2013 Ingrandimento, a Collateral Event of the 55th Venice Biennale,Global Art Center
Foundation Palazzo Mora Venice italy
Unbounded—Artworks by Chinese Contemporary Young Artists Berlin Germany
2012 Wind direction— China-Russia Year Russia Moscow Museum of Modern Art Moscow Russia
Normandy International Film festival. Normandy France
2011 From China's contemporary art, Montpellier France
2010 New Wave of Chinese contemporary art University of California Museum of Art USA
2009 Lately history contemporary art exhibition Royal Art Museum Tours France
the 1st Chongqing Biennale Chongqing Exhibition Center Chongqing China
China’s critics nomination exhibition Beijing Museum of contemporary art Beijing China