Standing before a painting realistically depicting life, you will feel the helplessness and confusion of your own life... 

Besides quite a few eminent artists, such as Qi Baishi and Xu Beihong, most ordinary people know little about other modern Chinese artists. Based on this, one can easily imagine what a terrible situation modern Chinese art is in at present. Every year, billions of dollars of foreign investment flood into China to scramble for as many shares as possible of the world's largest cultural market. However, many Chinese, who could be potential art appreciators, refuse to accept local artists and their works. Therefore, many Chinese artists have been forced to go abroad to survive.

What kinds of cultural lives do ordinary Chinese people have nowadays? Karaoke? Hutong culture? Or culture featuring reminiscence, like The Photo Album of the Past? Perhaps, they visit the ruins of the Yuanmingyuan Garden or an exhibition of ancient bronze ware sometimes, which reminds them of the splendid history of their country. They know little, though, about the development of modern arts.

Over the past years, those artists who have gone abroad have striven hard to successfully build up their fame overseas. Their stories have been published in foreign newspapers and magazines, and their works have been collected in overseas art galleries and museums. In China, however, their names are only known by a few that belong to art circles. For most ordinary Chinese people, who are busy making a living, those world-famous artists have nothing to do with their lives.

In order to introduce world arts to Chinese people, 350 Chinese painters active overseas are exhibiting 650 pieces of their works at the Art Galley of the China Millennium Monument from September to October this year. Just imagine how amazing the exhibition will be, with its over 300 unruly souls and over 600 stunning paintings, which have been brought together to feast visitors' eyes. As a visitor to the exhibition, you will be deeply impressed by the paintings. Standing before a painting realistically depicting life, you will feel the helplessness and confusion of your own life. There will be at least one painting that will please or surprise you, or move you to tears or meditation. A color or a line will be enough to awaken your passion for the arts, which is hidden deep in everyone's heart.

All of the artists have high expectations for the exhibition, because it makes their dream of introducing their children-their works-to the public come true. "Appreciating art is a right that should be enjoyed by everybody," the artists said when interviewed. "Art should not only shine on the highest roofs of luxurious palaces, but also on every blade of grass across the city. People are equally noble before art."

Impressed by the great enthusiasm of the artists, the organizer of the exhibition plans to hold a series of activities to popularize modern Chinese art and introduce varied painting styles and techniques to art lovers. Their goal is to awaken an aesthetic sensitivity in ordinary people. Whether the goal is achieved or not, no one can deny the exhibition is a grand event in China's art history.

 
One of a series: Hullabaloos in the City, by Cao Li

Existence, by Jiang Jie

A Magnificent Scene, by Ding Fang

Dinosaur I, by Sui Jianguo

 Source: China Pictorial                Editor: Li Guixiang.