Scene of the exhibition

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Foreign visitors at the exhibition thought lacquer paintings are “mysterious, Chinese style, modern and international”. Chen Enshen, who is an artist as well as the director of Painting Arts Council of Chongqing Artists Association, said that lacquer painting is a combination of science and arts. Recently, the First Academic Nomination Exhibition of Painting Arts Council of Chongqing Artists Association was opened at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, displaying 77 lacquer paintings. Chen Enshen explained the secrets of lacquer paintings for visitors.

Represented by Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, lacquer paintings in Chongqing are of thick cultural connotation and unique characteristics. This exhibition displayed 77 lacquer paintings from 42 members of Painting Arts Council of Chongqing Artists Association and nominated painters. Paintings exhibited are colorful and different from imagined brown lacquer paintings, and have various themes. Chen said that when foreign visitors appreciated these paintings, they acclaimed that these paintings were mysterious, Chinese style, modern and international, which also concluded the characteristics of lacquer paintings.

Scene of the exhibition

“Lacquer painting with an 80-year history, belongs to easel paintings, which is different from Chinese traditional lacquerware. It’s difficult to create a lacquer painting. Artists should first have a solid foundation in painting, and learn the language of lacquer to create.” said Chen Enshen. He also said that most previous lacquer paintings were created by raw lacquer and mainly in brown. Lacquer paintings nowadays are created by chemical paint. Artists should make various modulations; that is, they have to match colors and consider the development of lacquer matched. Before the creation, artists should do experiments again and again, like exposing lacquer modulated under the sun to observe its changes. Lacquer painting artists can be regarded as engineers, so the lacquer painting is a combination of science and arts. 

Wandering in April (《四月的漫步》) of Chen Enshen

This exhibition will last to March 25 and you can visit it for free. (Translated by Mao Qiao, Fathom Language Limited)