Freedom and real-life are two subjects artists tend to depict in most of their works as it is depicted in several ways by artists and in various mediums.
For Chilean painter Jose Venturelli (1924-88), he focuses on the importance of the plight of the grass-root people and the essense of humanities as it faces the changing social discourses that challenges those in the lower strata of society and those who are continously oppressed. His sentiments can be seen in 40 pieces of his artworks - from paintings, sketches to lithographs - which is currently on exhibit at the art museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Aside from his sentiments, he also features landscapes and the people of Chile as they struggled through life's many ups and downs.
Venturelli has also studied in China for a time, learning the techniques of oil painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. There, he met artists like Qi Baishi, who also influenced him in adding classical Chinese painting techniques. Some of his works, which is also included in the exhibit, showcased simple paint schemes, delicate lining and even open compositions that are usually seen in Chinese paintings.
When asked about his perception of art, Venturelli had replied "Art is the greatest fortune of people. it helps us understand the past, and the sensitive relationships between the human and nature, society and history.
The exhibition entitled 'Masters of Latin America: Jose Venturelli' will end on July 21 and will be re-exhibited in Nanjing and Shanghai as part of the 2016 China-Latin America and Caribbean Cultural Exchange Year.
