Li Youxing
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Li Youxing | |
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| Born | 1905 |
| Died | 1982 |
| Nationality | Chinese |
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Li Youxing 李有行（1905-1982) Mister Li was born in the Shuangban Township of Zitong (Sichuan) China, and passed away in Chongqing in 1982. From 1918 to 1926, he studied at the Beijing School of Specialized Art. He furthered his studies from 1926 to 1931 at the Lyon Academy of Fine Arts in France and later worked in Paris following his graduation. From 1931 to 1936, he served as the head of the art department at the Shanghai Mei Yasi Silk Factory. Between 1936 to 1937, he returned to his alma mater, the [1], where he became the head of the department of applied arts and also served as its director of academic affairs. In 1940, Mister Li founded the Sichuan Chengdu School of Specialized Art where he served as its president until 1949. In 1953, he became a professor and the director of academic affairs at the Southwest Institute of Fine Arts (later Sichuan Fine Arts Institute). Li Youxing's lifetime contributions resulted in four significant cultural legacies:
1. He meticulously committed himself to documenting his work, his projects, his research and his daily life into a journal. These provide detailed accounts and historical facts pertaining to the creation of the Sichuan Chengdu School of Specialized Art. These crucial historical records serve as a witness of the birthing of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Sichuan Conservatory of Music, and the original Chongqing Jianzhu Institute. They also provide important micro historical data for the study of social change in China.
2. He left hundreds of artworks, characterized by a unique style of bold color and precise shades of light, serving as testament to his proficiency in the art of painting. Li Youxing was a pioneer in introducing the western modern painting concepts of color and light to China and he stands as an ambassador of innovation in applying both concepts to his creations. This earned him the title of Grand Master of Eastern Colors.
3. During the most challenging period of the Anti-Japanese War (1939-1940), he established the Sichuan Chengdu School of Specialized Art and served as its president. This school greatly eased the living difficulties of a large number of displaced artists at the time and played a crucial role in pioneering a new era for art education in the Southwest region. It was a precursor to Sichuan Conservatory of Music and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, and also one of the origins of Chongqing Jianzhu Institute.
4. He pioneered a comprehensive system of applied art education to the establishment by seamlessly integrating the foundational structure of painting and applied arts into pattern designing. Throughout his uninterrupted 40-year teaching career, Li Youxing persistently cultivated two generations of artistic talents with his exceptional artistic skills, effective teaching system, and powerful personal charisma, rightfully earning him the title of a Master in his field.
Biography
Master of applied arts; Youxing Li (1905 to 1982) Mister Li was born in the Shuangban Township of Zitong (Sichuan) China, and passed away in Chongqing in 1982 at the rightful age of 77. From 1918 to 1926, he studied at the Beijing School of Specialized Art which was the first modern public art school of its kind in China at that time. Its predecessor was the classical Central Academy of Fine Arts. Mr. Li enrolled at the early age of thirteen (13) and ranked second overall in pattern design, becoming one of the very first students to successfully achieve the program with high honor. His mentor during his studies was Zheng Jin, who had previously undergone his art education in Japan. It was during those important years that Mr. Li acquired his most valuable foundation in painting.
From 1926 to 1931, Mr. Li studied at the renown Lyon Academy of Fine Arts in France, specializing in textile pattern design and applied arts. During this time, he created a series of art works including the "Night Scene of the Paris Canal", the "Eiffel Tower" the "Street Scene" and a "Self-Portrait." In 1930, he graduated with high regard and was immediately employed by a specialized silk printing and dyeing pattern design company in Paris (France) for his outstanding talent.
The following year in 1931, he married Yang Dixuan, and the newlyweds returned quick after to China to pursue their life partnership and to establish a family. That same year, he took up the position as director of the art department at the Shanghai Mei Yasi Silk Factory. Five years later in 1936, he returned to his alma mater, the National Beijing School of Specialized Art. First as a professor, and soon after as the head of the department of applied arts where he also served as the director of academic affairs. It was during this time that he embarked on his passionate journey of relaying his knowledge and mastery of art for a period of over forty (40) years.
In 1937 following the incident of the Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge Incident) and until 1939, like all other universities in the occupied areas, the National Beijing Art School was forced to relocate its operations. The journey was arduous, but Mr. Li, along with Zhao Tailou, Shen Fuwen, Wang Manshuo, Lei Guiyuan, Pang Xunqin, and many others, traveled to Chengdu to reestablish its activities. Tragically during the transition, news reached Mr. Li that his younger brother, Li Yougan (lieutenant pilot in the Air Force) had perished during aerial combat against the Japanese fleet over Shanghai.
From 1940 to 1949, mister Li established the Sichuan Chengdu School of Specialized Art where he served as its president. Throughout his tenure at the school, he collaborated with numerous known Chinese scholars, including Shen Fuwen, Tan Danjing, Guo Qiande, Yu Yixuan, Xu Beihong, Zhang Daqian, Wu Zuoren, Ye Qianyu, Ding Cong, Guan Liang, Liu Kaiqu, Lei Guiyuan, Pang Xunqin, Gu Qi'yi, Lv Shuxiang, Xu Jingke, just to name a few. 1947 was a golden year in Mr. Li's career where he created a series of landscape paintings depicting Mount Emei. These masterpieces became an integral part of his legacy and that of a nation. Today, the existing fifteen pieces of the "Mount Emei" series is considered to be the pinnacle of his landscaping artworks and proof of his divine artistic talent. Of his students from the 1940s, Zhang Yangjun, Guo Qixiang, Ye Yushan, Zhong Zhiyi, Zhu Zhifu, and Lang Xiuyu were some of his most promising talents.
In 1953, following a nationwide restructuring of the higher educational system, Mr. Li became a professor and the director of academic affairs at the Southwest Institute of Fine Arts (later Sichuan Fine Arts Institute). Here, he introduced a unique "Limited Color Painting" technique, which had a profound impact on art education that even spread to the Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Arts and Crafts Institute in Beijing. From the early 1950s until the early 1980s, a large number of high-quality students graduated and remained loyal to the establishment.
Their devotion became the backbone of the art education community in China, spreading out to major textile printing and dyeing centers across the country, including Shanghai, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Qingdao, and other cities in the Southwest region. His students from the 1950s included but not limited to Zhang Mingde, Li Baoqin, Zhong Maolan, Huang Meiyao, Yang Liang, Li Laiyuan, Peng Bangyi, Fan Jitao, Xu Shuhua, Wu Pingzhang, Chen Heding, Zhang Rengui, Zhou Zilin, Wang Bangsi, Zhou Baohua, Wang Qingming, Wu Peizhu, Gu Ying, Fu Guanggeng, Xiang Zhongxin, Liu Shengyang, Zhang Chenjie, Liu Dailiang, Shi Zushan, Sun Wenguang, Tang Dequan, Chen Chuanchi, Huang Wei'yi, Chen Zhongchang, Sun Yunling, Yi Benkui, Yao Yutang, Xiao Minghua, Liu Shengyang, Yang Tianyou and Zhang Fuxian.
In the 1960s, his most prized students included Chen Chongwu, Chen Xingwei, Yang Ganzhao, Tan Benyu, Chen Zuji, Sun Dexian, Qian Laizhong, Li Zhengkang, Kang Shaoxi, Wu Manyi, Zhu Bing, Xia Shenglan, Li Zhihe, Sun Weixin, and He Zhesheng amongst others.Thanks to the help and support of the party secretary of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute; Wang Songxian, Mr. Li was shielded from being labeled as a rightist. This made it possible for Mr Li to travel to different regions of his native country, leaving behind a heritage of works from landscapes to floral sceneries. These works are not only vibrant in color, but also demonstrate his unwavering genius in painting.
In 1973, Mr. Li underwent surgery for cancer, but this did not dampen his creative enthusiasm. His later travels included a visit to Dunhuang, resulting in the "Dunhuang Landscape" series. Finally, in 1982, Li Youxing returned to the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, where he spent his final days. His artistic career was marked by challenges, but also by his strong resilience and passion, leaving a profound impact on Chinese art education. Even though Youxing Li left this earth plane several years ago, he gifted us with a heritage of over four hundred spectacular works before his departure. These unsurpassed pieces display his unique style, combined with his bold and precise use of color and light, showcasing his artistic prowess. It is equally interesting to note that Li Youxing was a pioneer in introducing western modern painting concepts of color and light to China. This made him an outstanding architect in applying both concepts in his works to create matchless results. He is thus hailed as a grand master of eastern colors. Throughout his uninterrupted career of over forty years as a teacher, his exceptional artistic skills and innovating methods made him a rare and sought expert in his field.
References
- ↑ Beijing School of Specialized Art
External links
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