NEW YORK—The Gold Award for the first New Tang Dynasty Television Chinese International Figure Painting Competition went to a deliberate artistic piece of great expression.
Li Yuan’s “Suffering in China” brings to light the victims of the Chinese communist regime’s persecution of the Falun Gong meditation and spiritual discipline. The painting is also a memorial to those everywhere who suffer without freedom or human rights.
Mr. Li chose the subject because he practices Falun Gong himself and wants to help stop the persecution by bringing attention to the issue through his artistic skills.
In the spirit of the artistic masters of the Renaissance, Mr. Li presents a painting that raises an issue in a sensitive and touching way. The deliberate details and technical excellence allow viewers to nearly forget that they are standing in front of a painting. They feel the emotions and struggle as if they are one with the scene.
The composition of the painting is simple, yet striking. A young woman sits on a bed, and behind her lies her dead husband. The torn piece of paper in his hand and chains on his feet communicate that he was tortured. The Chinese characters on the paper stand for a “declaration” that he refused to sign, which resulted in his death. This declaration claims that he “regrets” his past and will give up practicing Falun Gong.
Despite the weight of the subject, the traces of violence are subtle. One must take a closer look to discover the wounds that bleed on his arm and breast. One of the tiny details is the half-covered Falun Gong emblem that the woman wears as a necklace, revealing that she is also a Falun Gong practitioner. From the golden rings on their fingers, one understands that they are a married couple.
The contrast of the warm white color of the woman’s blouse and the bluish white blanket that covers the man’s body marks the divide between life and death.
Appearing in warm light, the woman’s face expresses her inner struggle. Tears run over her cheeks, yet her appearance is gentle and collected. She is just now coming to terms with the fact that she is a widow, and she could possibly suffer the same fate as her husband for having the same beliefs. Yet, there is also defiance against the tyranny in her expression. She is determined not to give in to her grief and anger.
The most significant characteristic is this cross composition chosen by the artist. She holds her arms crossed in front of her breast as if protecting something. The cross composition is repeated by the positioning of the two bodies. In describing his decision to use this form of composition, Mr. Li said: “This kind of structure is very simple and direct, suitable to bring the tension in the picture and to concentrate the view. The picture is telling us a story about tragedy. The cross is a striking symbol representing eternity and the stopping of time.”
In order to be able to create such a strong work of art, Mr. Li said that it took about one month to conceive the composition, and another two more months to paint it.
