Chinese artist uses modern painting to document change

Since one of his masterpieces, "Supporting the Frontline," claimed the Bronze Award at the 6th National Art Exhibition in 1984, his passion as an artist has remained undimmed for decades as he keeps exploring new themes and ideas. This medal-winning artwork depicts the Huaihai Battle, a decisive victory for the Communist Party of China at the end of the nation's civil war.

Fan Yang has created a wide variety of paintings. In addition to his landscape works, flower-and-bird paintings and depictions of people, he is also well versed in sketch art and calligraphy.

Fan's works have long been praised as precious possessions, a tribute to his outstanding skill at traditional Chinese painting and innovative ideas. For example, his landscape paintings inherit the tradition of rendering mountains and rivers from the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties while also inclining toward the aesthetic style of "thick pen and heavy ink."

Moreover, he does not restrict himself to the natural scenery or pastoral scenes but also likes to paint villages, towns and even cities.

In recent years, Fan has paid closer attention to subjects drawn from Chinese and world affairs.

He believes contemporary painters should create outstanding works in line with their era. And in his works, the diversity of forms and the inner unity of spirit are the distinctive features; all things flourish, compete with each other freely, and the world is brimming with color and vitality.

What's more, Fan has used his brushes to record the stories of the times. For example, after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics wrapped up, viewers could relive the crowning achievements of Team China and other inspiring stories that captured the Olympic spirit in the scores of artworks he produced about the Games.

"The speed and sense of power required by Chinese brush and ink paintings reflect the spirit of the Olympics. Let audiences feel the excitement of the Olympic Games through my paintings and look forward to the (future) performances of the athletes," he said.

Fan Yang said Chinese painters should capitalize on global platforms such as the Olympics to tell exciting Chinese narratives and telegraph China's sporting spirit far and wide.