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June 4, 2015

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Finding a passion for color

Zhou Chunya, a contemporary painter and sculptor who lavishes his works with bold colors, is much in demand these days.

Last month he appeared at a party launching one his bronze sculptures at the Aurora Art Museum in Shanghai. He later appeared at the opening ceremony of Meissen Villa Store on Hengshan after being named Meissen’s first “cooperative artist’ for the company’s 305-year-old European porcelain brand.

Zhou, who was born in Chongqing, topped the Hurun Art List in 2012, with sales of his auctioned work hitting US$75 million.

At part of his collaboration with Meissen, Zhou will be involved with creation of collections of porcelain paintings, sculptures, teapots and vases. Part of the revenue from sales of the collections will be donated to the Art Helps the Disabled program that Zhou founded.

Born in 1955, Zhou graduated from the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts in 1982. After obtaining his master degree from the Kassel Academy of Fine Art in Germany in 1988, he returned to China a year later.

His signature style of chic clothing wrapping a slim figure has earned him a reputation as one of the most “stylish of the art community.”

His works combine traditional elements of Chinese literati paintings with aesthetics from modern expressionist movements in the West. He has established his fame in paintings of green dogs, red nudity and, more recently, peach blossoms.

His childhood was anything but bright.

Zhou’s father died when he was young, and his mother raised him and two sisters. His mother was very good-natured, a trait she seems to have passed on to her only son.

He joined an art school when he 15 because he “wanted to eat meat,” he said. The school was aimed at producing artists to serve the Cultural Revolution and create political propaganda, but it also provided nourishing meals, which were often hard to come by in that era.

Zhou’s works are characterized by striking colors.

“I have always liked bright colors and enjoyed their visual stimulation,” he said “That is in my nature. I was never short of passion in my life.”

Zhou married three times and later said his emotions toward each of his wives could be seen in some of his works.

Q: What advice do you give to young collectors starting out?

A: First of all, you have to love art, and then consider the artistic and economic value of the artworks. You have to understand the artist. Don’t merely view art as a commercial commodity, but rather something you love. This is the most difficult part. Different people have different aesthetic tastes.

Q: The art market has been sluggish in the past two years. How do you see this?

A: As an opportunity. If an art work is a good one and the price is low, then it is a bargain. But an artist can’t think too much of the commercial value of his artwork. It is the market that will judge its commercial value.

Q: Can you briefly describe how do you spend a day?

A: My life is quite simple. I play golf in the morning, then do some painting in the afternoon. Sometimes I go dinner with friends or watch movies in the evening, or just stay at home with my family.

Q: Could you comment on your collaboration with Meissen?

A: It’s a high-end brand. For me, this cooperation is both an opportunity and a challenge. This is something new. First, I have to learn about its craftsmanship, and then how to fuse my art into such craftsmanship. Frankly speaking, I still don’t have a complete idea at the moment. But that doesn’t matter. I will communicate with the Germans who work for Meissen, and I look forward to seeing what comes of it.




 

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