On September 6, the opening ceremony of "Life Portrait—An Exhibition of Liu Yaming's Self-Portraits" was held at Nancy's Gallery in the Shanghai Art Flow District. The exhibition runs from September 6 to October 16.
At the ceremony, Ms. Nancy Lee, producer of the exhibition and owner of Nancy's Gallery, noted that this marks Liu Yaming's first portrait exhibition. She emphasized that the artist's life experiences and circumstances are reflected in every expression and gaze captured in the works.
The exhibition presents 21 self-portraits created between 1995 and 2024. Liu explained that each portrait embodies a different version of himself, enabling him to explore and understand various facets of his identity. For instance, following "Fable of the Century," he painted himself as a warrior; after "Eye of the Sky," he depicted himself as a general, symbolizing newfound confidence and authority. Some works also reflect moments of despair, where his dimmed gaze contemplates life's direction and what legacy he might leave behind. Through these paintings, Liu not only portrays the external world but also reveals a profound expression of his own life in relation to it.
Curator Dr. Zha Changping remarked, "As human beings, our actions exist in space, as we perceive and plan ourselves. Liu's Self-Portrait, 2021, and Self-Portrait, 2024, stand as visual testimonies of profound compassion forged through the hardships of an era marked by endless confinement. His creative approach is reminiscent of Van Gogh, who is believed to have produced more than 40 self-portraits between 1882 and 1889. Similarly, Liu has also created over 40 portraits. In viewing his works, audiences not only encounter his self-portraits but also find reflections of themselves within them."
Professor Liu Ping, a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Philosophy, Fudan University, noted, "In the era of artificial intelligence, there are two primary ways individuals present or identify themselves: through the face and the fingerprint. In China, the face is the defining symbol of personal identity on an ID card. Liu Yaming's "Self-Portrait" represents another form of self-identification and self-presentation. The significance lies not in the artist revealing his likeness in realistic oil painting but in the continuity of these works spanning 30 years (1995–2024). Without a single word, they encapsulate the spirit of an era.
Liu's "Self-Portrait" journeys from the external to the internal, exposing wasted years, inner turmoil, wanderings, struggles, emotional depths, and the tension between ideals and reality, all inscribed upon the outward face. The face becomes the mysterious language of the soul, constantly recounting history and story, shaped by repeated retelling. Within it are both forced obedience and inevitable questioning, reflecting the stalemate of life's contradictions rather than an idealized fiction. In resisting superficial uniformity and the standardization of cosmetic enhancement, Liu's self-portraits sustain a discourse across three decades, an unspoken yet enduring conversation."
Li Xiaofeng, professor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, former director of the Academy's Museum, and a renowned critic and curator, observed, "Liu Yaming's portraits embody the vastness of history and the sharpness of thought, while conveying a profound sense of morality and a sacred religious spirit. In short, they possess the breadth of intellectual inquiry, surpassing even the 'academic school.' This is particularly significant in an era when academia grows increasingly bureaucratic, society becomes more institutionalized, and young people, who represent the future, prioritize civil service. At such a time, the intellectual virtues of rationality, reflection, skepticism, and critical thinking are all the more vital.
Liu's works also evoke the grandeur of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovich; the moral heights of Tolstoy; the profound humanity of Dostoevsky; and the historical, mythological, and spiritual depth of Anselm Kiefer. In China, while I may not be free to speak at length about music, dance, literature, theater, or even film, I can proudly say that such achievements have emerged in the realm of painting."
Curator Dr. Zha Changping highlighted Liu Yaming's "Self-Portrait" as a multidimensional exploration of individual life, capturing a depth of negative emotion that, in the history of modern art, is perhaps second only to Van Gogh. He posed the question: "Could this be considered a true 'portrait of life' for our entire era?"
Liu Yaming, born in 1962 in Neijiang, Sichuan, is a renowned contemporary Chinese oil painter currently based in Beijing. Known for blending Chinese and Western artistic traditions and exploring both ancient and modern spiritual themes, he has been called the "Thinker of Color." His major works, including "Fable of the Century" and "Eye of the Sky," combine grand scale with profound philosophical reflection, expressing social concerns and humanistic insights.
Liu is equally acclaimed for his portraits, noted for their emotional depth and perceptive insight. He has served as an honorary member of the Presidium of the Chinese Culture Promotion Society and as vice president of the Bashu Painting, and he is a member of the Portrait Society of America. His solo exhibitions in Belgium, the United States, Turkey, and other countries have drawn widespread recognition, with one Belgian exhibition described as "one of the most interesting shows since Picasso and Miró." Among his honors are the Silver Medal from the Artists' Union of the USSR and the Global Chinese Fine Art Golden Brush Award.
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited and translated by Poppy Chan
