Cen Long: "I love Taiwan; it makes me feel freedom and love."

Huangyuan Construction curated a heavyweight art exhibition in August, showcasing 15 oil paintings by Chinese artist Cen Long at the new project "Huangyuan Yubao" in the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. This is the only exhibition of Cen Long's classic works in Kaohsiung following his participation in the Venice Biennale last year and an exhibition organized by the Yuxi Education Foundation on Yangmingshan in Taipei. The exhibition runs from now until November 4.

Guo Minneng, Chairman of Huangyuan Construction, stated that Cen Long's painting style is simple yet delicate, with clever composition. From his works, one can feel the freshness and tranquility of the moment, prompting contemplation of the preciousness of real life and simple human nature. Huangyuan Construction specially invited Cen Long to hold the only solo exhibition in Kaohsiung, titled "We Sow Hope." Fifteen selected works by Cen Long are on display in the project, allowing the public to integrate a sense of artistic thinking into rational architectural design.

"I love Taiwan, where I feel freedom and love," Cen Long briefly expressed at the opening ceremony, reflecting his personality—low-key and reserved. He has been creating for most of his life, not pursuing fame, and consistently adhering to his artistic philosophy. Originally, he didn't sell his paintings because he believed his artworks were art, not financial commodities. It wasn't until 2007, following the advice of an art agent, that he entered the art market.

Similar to the life experiences of art masters like Lin Fengmian, Xu Beihong, and Zao Wou-Ki, Cen Long, in his youth, witnessed his father being taken away by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. This led him to search for answers in the challenging questions of life, but he ultimately chose to unfold the sunny side of human nature. His works don't glorify sorrow but narrate the twists and turns of life and emotions, releasing love and hope onto the canvas.

Cen Long, a man of few words, comes from an intellectual family background, but he never boasts about his heritage. Both of his parents were celebrities—his father, Cen Jiawu, was a renowned scholar in art history and anthropology, referred to as the "early deceased genius," and his mother, Feng Laiyi, was a history professor, listed as one of China's top 100 female scholars. With the artistic and literary DNA from his parents, Cen Long, who loves classical music and opera since childhood, read extensively in literature and philosophy. This influence is evident in Cen Long's works, which include not only oil paintings but also a period of creating children's picture books, maintaining the purest part of his personality.

During the nearly three-month Cen Long oil painting exhibition, six aesthetic lectures were also organized, taking place from 3:00 to 4:00 PM on various dates, featuring topics such as the emotional power of painting, abstract art, the artist's line, the collector's artistic world, home aesthetics, and perspectives on art.

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