Monuments in mind
Wen Lipeng, an oil painter and retired professor from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, has established a reputation for imbuing the figures, mountains, rocks and trees he depicts with a weighty, historical feeling. His subjects do not look the way they are, but more like monuments that grab the attention at first sight. In using this approach, Wen is paying tribute to the luminaries and unsung heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the public good throughout history. His method is inspired by a saying of famed poet, patriot and social activist Wen Yiduo, who was also his father: "Art is a flower blooming on the wounds of bodies and hearts." The Internationale in the Heart, an exhibition at the CAFA Art Museum, traces the evolution of Wen Lipeng's painting, and his commitment to his father's belief. Highlights of the exhibition include Internationale, a signature piece painted in 1963, and dozens of drafts of the painting, which Wen Lipeng donated to the Central Academy of Fine Arts last year. The exhibition runs until Nov 19.
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