Preface
Article /Zhao Xucheng
All “Masters” in true sense have profound culture knowledge and distinctive personalities. Therefore, innovation is the only way to success for artists. Chen Xiguang is a member of Chinese Artists Association, a distinguished painter of Jiangsu Academy of Traditional Chinese Painting, Art Director and Academic Advisor of Painting World of Cultural Department of Jiangsu Province, Secretary-General and Standing Associate Editor-in-Chief of national tour of Jiang Shan Xiong Yun—1st National Famous Chinese Painters Academic Invitation Exhibition in Xiamen in 2010, and Secretary-General of national tour of Jiang Shan Xiong Yun—of 100 Most Influential Chinese Painters Academic Invitation Exhibition in 2011.
Xiguang’s achievements today are attributed to his efforts over all these years. He often sacrifices his rest time to paint till 3AM~4AM in the nights. Finally, his hard work pays off. He does not only win many awards in National Art Exhibition but also exhibits his artwork and holds solo exhibitions in China Art Museum, Shanghai Art Museum, Huibei Art Museum, Qian Jun Ceramics Art Institute, Xu Beihong Memorial, Yixing Art Museum, Xukou Exhibition Center of Chinese Artists Association in Suzhou, Xi’an Exhibition Center of Chinese Artists Association (Liang Bao House), and Aitao Art Center in Jiangsu. Newspapers and journals such as China Art Weekly, Traditional Chinese Painter, Art Market, Art And Collection, Painting and Calligraphy Art, Xukou Art all have special edition reports on Xiguang and his artwork. He also went to the U.S., Japan, France, Germany and Singapore for academic exchanges. His artwork has been successfully auctioned in Beijing Rongbao Auction House and Beijing Hanhai Auction House for many times.
His arts benefit from both inspiration of the nature and nourishment of masterpieces. Especially, his concentrated study of Master Binhong’s works favors him a lot. He has greatly absorbed the art essence of the master very well and integrates it into his own style. His paintings are vigorous and splendid yet natural and refreshing, more wild and bold in use of brush and ink; especially creative in use of water, like a refreshing rain after a long drought. His Misty and Rainy Landscape, Home in Cloud-covered Green Mountain and Gods Would Also Linger Here are very good examples.
Lately he brought some urban, figure and bird-and-flower paintings. When the paintings were unfolded, I was really surprised. Those paintings appeared fairly bright and brilliant, quite different from his previous style. I remember I talked with him about the future of Chinese painting and told him my thought a month ago. We both believed that Chinese painting should be more magnificent, national and innovative. I did not expect such big change on his painting. The conflict between ink and colors has been a very difficult problem and obstacle all the time. This time Xiguang really made a bold try in colors. Simultaneous, mixed, accumulated or water-like applications of ink and colors are all his bold attempts. Passionate, sophisticated, vigorous, delicate, splendid… all integrate harmoniously. The painting keeps both the visual impact of oil painting and the transparency of watercolor. He really did “making the past serve the present and the foreign serve China”.
China Haiyan Museum
Nightscape of Beijing
Misty Landscape
Misty Suburb
Pleasant Sound Of Birds
Flower In Battlefield