Search
  • Home
  • Media center
    • News
    • Biz updates
    • Life
    • Specials
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Government
    • News release
    • Personnel changes
    • Annual reports
    • Officials
    • Bureaus
  • Living
    • Life
    • Dining
    • Shopping
    • Entertainment
    • Arts
      • Craftworks
      • Theater performances
      • Museums
      • Galleries
      • Art zones
    • Transportation
    • Services
    • FAQ
  • Doing business
    • Biz updates
    • Introduction
    • Planning
    • Procedures
    • Policies
    • Industries
    • Industrial parks
    • Enterprises
  • Visiting
    • Travel log
    • Attractions
      • Historical
      • Parks
      • Religious
      • Museums
      • Nature
      • Landmarks
    • Itineraries
    • Maps
    • Transportation
    • Hotels
    • Dining
  • Study
    • Student stories
    • Overview
    • Universities
    • Scholarships
    • Services
    • Learning Chinese
    • Testing
  • About
    • Profiles
    • Maps
    • Districts
    • Special areas
    • Festivals and events
    • History
  • Events
    • Dates
    • Categories
  • Forum
 
Home / People

China's abstract pioneer Xu Dongdong returns to public life

Updated: 2015-08-04 /By Liu Xiangrui (China Daily)
  • printer
  • mail

China's abstract pioneer Xu Dongdong returns to public life

Artist Xu Dongdong. Photos Provided to China Daily

The Chinese artist Xu Dongdong is back with a series of new artworks.

While he was famous as a young star in China's art circle, Xu had disappeared from public life at the peak of his career, and lived a hermit-like existence for more than 10 years before his recent reemergence. But he doesn't regret it, saying the time away from media spotlight allowed him to focus more on art.

"It also helped to liberate me from limitations of the past environment and introspect about my art style and life," the 56-year-old artist says, while sipping tea at the lobby of a Beijing hotel. His sonorous voice and occasional laughter reveal his cheerful personality.

Longing to artistically reborn, Xu moved to the outskirts of Beijing and lived in seclusion since 2003, spending most of his time painting, reading and tending to his garden.

As a pioneer of abstract painting in the country, Xu has worked since the 1980s, to make Chinese paintings travel from traditional to modern forms and from regional to international appeal.

"I wanted to create something of our own times, instead of confining myself in the gardens built by our ancestors," Xu says.

He hopes to create abstract paintings featuring Chinese perceptions and reflecting society here, other than just imitating Western abstract art. Xu has also looked for abstract concepts in Chinese philosophy for inspiration and he has strived to transform them into the language of his own paintings.

Previous 1 2 3 Next
Previous 1 2 3 Next

News:
  • Peking Opera thriving in Hawaii
  • Americans go 'Hao' over Jingju
  • Beijing holds Feast of Golf
  • Li Lei brings his visual symphony to Beijing
  • A better Beijing in the Year of the Rooster?
  • 刷脸进站(shuāliǎn jìn zhàn): 'Face ticket' at train stations
Specials:
Tsinghua Holdings Co. Ltd launched “Top 10 Talents” in response to the 13th Five Year Plan goal of building Beijing into a national Technology & Innovation Center with a creative spirit and innovative cultural atmosphere.
Top 10 Talents of Tsinghua Holdings read more
Videos:
Easy Talk: Advocating environment protection through storytelling read more

Turn the page and discover Beijing in all its eclectic delights.

Explore the charm of the city in our promo videos

    • Contact
    • Site Map
    • Disclaimer
Copyright © 2011 China Daily All Rights Reserved Sponsored by Beijing Municipal Government Powered by China Daily              京ICP备10023870号-9