Jia Art Gallery is very proud to pronounce the Grand Opening of our newly renovated art space. The new look features gray walls, instead of the common white, and wooden furniture, which create a cozy environment that make people feel at ease. The new idea is to have two exhibitions side by side in one art space. Exhibition A will be featuring " Back to the True Essence of Simplicity – CEN LONG Solo Exhibition 2012”. And exhibition B will be old masters such as YANG San Lang, LAI Chuan Jian, LIU Chi Hsiang, HUNG Juei Lin, KUO Bo Chuan, CHANG Wan Chuan, Max LIU and HSIA Yan. All of these artworks defines the core value of Jia Art Gallery, which is continue to present great collectibles to all art lovers.
Cen Long, born in Canton, China, once said: “For every good artist, they all have stars of their own, and perhaps it might be a girl, a blood relative, or a group of down-to-earth persons, by whom he is touched, and only in such way, there will be births of really good paintings.” Cen’s works may appear dull and ordinary at the first sight; however, gradually you will be deeply drawn to the characters on the canvases and deeply moved by his artworks. He seeks an eternal quest in simplicity and his works have a deep dialogue with its viewers.
Cen Long comes from a family of scholars, he has suffered with several great adversities all his life, his father passed away when he was young, even suffers with hardships such as Cultural Revolution. Cen grew up in Lyon, France in his early years, where the masterpieces no doubt touched the hearts of people, and inspired the spiritual world of Cen Long. There was an oil painting made by the Finnish artist named Akseli Gallen-kallela(1865-1931) leaving him with the most profound impression; he realized that a feel of warmth delivered by the piece of work, in fact it was emotions created by the artists with his heart and soul, since then Cen sets his life-long purpose for beauty, love and virtue.
Instinctively, Cen pays special attention to the living habits and conditions of minorities and the general public. The artworks depict the life in the northwest of China. The characters and objects in his works are often from the disadvantaged groups such as the minorities, farmers and animals, living in worst environment; however they all face adversities with a grin, as well as express comfort, confidence, and happiness.
Cen applies the approaches of the realistic method in brush strokes, which is with a strict structure and at the same time, to allow strokes of a bold and flowing style. He feels that only by such a painting method, he is able to present honestly of the love he feels towards this culture and its people to the audiences. He is very meticulous on the ways of his strokes, and by using the weights as well as the layers of the strokes, to create different kinds of visual experience on the pictures, and he never stops to look for the ideals. He uses the most simple and unsophisticated painting techniques to paint his works; this method could take longer time, yet that is the what he looks for, a down-to-earth and ordinary beauty. Thus, his intention to make the picture look rustic, and with the scent of the dirt; by doing so, the visual tensions of the pictures will be lost.
In the mainstream art market in China, Cen Long has never deviated from the artistic ideals throughout his life: “I do not create art for the sake of art itself, but my art are for the realization of truth.” In the world of contemporary art, an artist like him is rare and deserves to be praised. "Simplicity" is the realization of truth which is beneath his canvas, Cen senses happiness in our lives where it actually exists in many seemingly ordinary things.
Jia Art Gallery cordially invites you to appreciate the true essence in simplicity, and to enjoy the moment of going back to the basics in Cen's works. Please take a moment to slow down, and follow the outlines of his strokes, to grasp the simplicity, and smell a fragrance of dirt as well as to sense the dampness of the ocean wind, while feeling the powerful contents which he himself has created for them from his works. Such a beautiful feeling and wisdom are hidden in the depth of the canvas, without seeing the original creations; there is nothing to be seen. With Cen's drawing pen you may think over a lot of principles in life, and then back to the original point and be able to take a closer look at what we seek out in life.
