Since ancient China, art has been a key component of the country’s heritage and culture. Central to this artistic endeavour is a focus on nature and harmony through the Three Perfections: Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting. In a field that’s usually dominated by male artists, Dr Xu Yanting has broken the glass ceiling and is a well-known contemporary Chinese female painter. Together with her daughter, the duo is staging “AGAPE”, an art exhibition in Singapore’s The Arts House from 1 to 3 May 2023.
Born into a scholarly family, Dr Xu is not unfamiliar with the Three Perfections. Her love for the arts started from a very young age and continued well into adulthood, where she studied painting under the tutelage of famous masters from Europe, the US and China. Employing different media such as ink, gelatine and oil, Dr Xu’s works amalgamate the East and West. The themes of her paintings mostly feature flowers and natural scenery, where she sought to express the beauty of harmony between man and nature.
A seasoned artist who has done numerous solo and joint exhibitions in China and worldwide, her paintings have found homes in official and private institutions far and wide. She also explained that she likes to “[create] plum blossom pictures to encourage myself and those around me to be strong and brave to overcome difficulties.”
Apart from being a painter, Dr Xu also holds various academic posts at different organisations. She’s a professor at Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, president of the Hong Kong Academy of Fine Arts, and president of the Zen Academy of the Chinese Culture Promotion Association in Beijing, China. Over the past few years, Dr Xu has utilised Zen Academy as a foundation for education and training, and has travelled abroad to establish friendships with other like-minded individuals, with the aspiration of promoting the beauty of Chinese culture globally.
Dr Xu and her coterie of artists will be engaging with fellow contemporaries in Singapore’s arts and culture scene. In line with her keen interest in public welfare, she will be donating money to Singapore Sian Chay Medical Institution. “AGAPE” by Xu Yanting and Xiong will feature 28 recent works by the two artists.
The exhibition, hosted by Olal’Art, will last for three days, where 2 and 3 May is open to the public from 10 am to 10 pm at The Arts House – Gallery II (1 Old Parliament Ln, Singapore 179429).
Head over to www.olalaworks.com for information or please contact: info@olalaworks.com.
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