The Poetry of Life - Han Art Space's "Starry Sky—Cen Long and His Art

"The Poetry of Life—Celestial Starlight: Cen Long and His Art"

"I hope to create a sacred yet approachable realm through Cen Long's paintings and the solemn atmosphere of the church. Cen Long's paintings, like the shining stars in the night sky, bring love and hope, purifying the hearts of people!" - Lin Xuanhan, CEO of Han Art Space

In conjunction with the 58th Venice Biennale in May of this year, Han Art Space will hold a solo exhibition titled "Celestial Starlight: Cen Long and His Art" at the Church of San Giovanni di Malta in Malta. Prior to the exhibition, collaboration with a neoclassical chamber music ensemble was initiated to reinterpret Cen Long's spiritual works, combining neoclassical musical techniques and dancer performances. A series of interdisciplinary opening week performances were planned, including a preview at the iconic construction project in Kaohsiung, "Royal Court Treasure."

Cen Long

Born in Guangzhou, China, in 1957, Cen Long earned his master's degree from the Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts in 1980. His father, the renowned sociologist and anthropologist Cen Jiawu, and his mother, historian Feng Laiyi, both ranked among China's top scholars. Growing up under a strong humanistic influence, Cen Long developed a special focus on the lifestyles of ethnic minorities and the working class. His works often feature characters from the lower rungs of the social pyramid, with meticulous composition, subtle layout, and a rich, subdued color palette, expressing thoughts and reflections on life's journey with simplicity and sincerity.

Encounter, acquaintance, and assistance - Lin Xuanhan and Cen Long

Cen Long was the first artist Lin Xuanhan, CEO of Han Art Space, represented and a pivotal figure in her career transition. Lin Xuanhan stated, "Of course, our art brokerage company doesn't only represent one artist, but Teacher Cen has always been the most important symbol of our company. Han Art Space was established for him, and I hope to let Teacher Cen's works be seen by more people. What I am doing is not exactly what the industry understands. Typically, the relationship between artists and galleries is a commercial one. However, Han Art Space has come to this point in its tenth year. In fact, I was moved by the spiritual connotations in Teacher Cen's works, and that kind of emotion is profound. It makes the soul become free and pure." Cen Long, having witnessed the persecution of his father during the Cultural Revolution, has a life journey that, despite its storms, culminated in a serene expression, ultimately translating into paintings that articulate love and hope. Lin Xuanhan wrote "The Singer on the Cloud" for Cen Long in 2012, which also became the foundation for the establishment of Han Art Space.

From lifelike depictions to the boundless vitality of abstraction

Cen Long sees painting as a way to comprehend life and express emotions. To extend the emotional commonality inherent in his works, Cen Long transitioned from faithful depictions of real-life scenes in the early stages of his career to a more subtle transformation in form around 2010, moving towards the spirit of "expressionism." His triptych painting "Boundaries" serves as a precursor to this concept: while the means still focus on lifelike representations to dissolve the gap in interpretation between artistic creation and the general public, the emphasis lies in conveying abstract concepts. In the background treatment, he internalizes and translates the landscapes of life using a non-regional approach, refining individualistic character designs and scene compositions in the image, unfolding positive contexts such as "love," "goodness," and "hope."

"Celestial Starlight: Cen Long and His Art"

Under the guidance of Han Art Space, Cen Long exhibited his works at the European Cultural Center in Venice in 2017. This year, he will expand the showcase in the Church of San Giovanni di Malta in Malta, led by the Order of Malta, titled "Celestial Starlight: Cen Long and His Art." The exhibition primarily features Cen Long's latest works from 2018 to 2019, with the exhibition title signifying the multitude of stars in the vast universe. The content is divided into three parts: "The Birth of Life," "The Journey of Life," and "The Sublimation of Life."

Observing the stars was a habit developed in Cen Long's childhood, and the star-studded night sky spoke to him about the intangible energy of the Earth, akin to the guidance of life's direction. The places where ethnic minorities reside, as depicted by Cen Long, are often close to nature. Therefore, his creative focus is either on the closest to the sky or the closest to the earth. Every year, Cen Long dedicates himself to creating a piece based on the theme of the night sky. The showcased work "Celestial Starlight" reflects the subtheme of the exhibition, "The Sublimation of Life," using a retrospective look at life to celebrate the efforts of individuals in their journey. In the painting, a shepherdess stands on the dark earth, with an expression devoid of fear and hesitation, serving as a guide to the surrounding flock, moving forward in the glimmering starlight.

The work "Praise of Life" leads the viewer through a carefully planned visual trajectory, extending from the gaze of the sheep to the boy's offering, and finally, in the caring posture of the mother bowing down, returning to the central, bulging abdomen of the mother in the painting. It eloquently speaks of "The Birth of Life" and the continuity and interdependence of life through the tender scenes.

The work "Sea Woman's Ritual" is inspired by Cen Long's residence in Japan. The repetitive calls of the Japanese Ama (sea women) during their labor echoed in Cen Long's memory. The everyday life of the Ama, depicted by Cen Long, transforms into a unique "sacred family," with scenes of collective boat-pushing serving as a portrayal of "The Journey of Life." The sea woman on the right holds a torch, suggesting Cen Long's survival belief in the implied darkness of the night – "hope."

Compared to his earlier works, Cen Long's new pieces deliberately remove regional imagery, opening up a broader visual perspective for viewers. To emphasize the appeal of emotional commonality, Cen Long uses grayscale as the main tone in his artworks. German artist Gerhard Richter once said, "Gray welcomes and is the only way to express equality to differences. It doesn't express a position, lacks subjectivity, and has no form." Cen Long's use of gray seems to express a rational attempt to distance the theme of the artwork from real images. It eliminates unnecessary associations with identity, providing viewers with a more direct emotional impact.

Collision of visual and auditory senses – "HOPE" interdisciplinary theater

Han Art Space collaborated with the neoclassical chamber music ensemble, known for the headline "A Musical Feast Showcasing Taiwan's Vitality and Soft Power Enthralls Chicago!" in Chicago media, to plan eight interdisciplinary performances titled "HOPE" during the opening week of the 58th Venice Biennale. A preview event was held on April 23, 2019, at Royal Court Treasure.

"The character '冀' represents hope in ancient Chinese, and the term '冀希' embodies the concept of hope. In this theater, the spiritual essence of Cen Long's works serves as the creative inspiration, depicting the process of artistic recreation. The New Classical Chamber Music Ensemble has long been devoted to incorporating Taiwan's local humanistic spirit—'freedom,' 'love,' and 'peace'—into musical compositions. This aligns seamlessly with the universal values that Cen Long seeks to convey. With a shared vision, the ensemble brings together piano, erhu, flute, and dance design, using the interplay of sound dynamics, reduction, expansion, glass, deconstruction, and the tension of dancers' movements to narrate the vital life force embodied in the artist's original works. The collaboration with Han Art has made the New Classical Chamber Music Ensemble the first cultural group from Southern Taiwan to be invited to perform during the opening week of the Venice Biennale.

Artistic Director of the New Classical Chamber Music Ensemble, Chen Hsin-yi, mentioned, 'Six months ago, I saw Cen Long's work "Dreams of Flight," which conveyed a suppressive force with both a downward and kite-like imagery. Later, I learned that it was related to the wave of suicides during the Cultural Revolution experienced by Cen Long's father. Jumping off a cliff may mark the end of life, but it is also the beginning of intellectual freedom. The tension presented by the painter's inner experiences and brushstrokes left me deeply moved.' Chen Hsin-yi incorporated a series of special playing techniques into the middle section of the theater. Different from the explosive sounds that might result from forcefully playing the piano keys, the striking and percussion on the strings demonstrate a relatively introverted endurance and state, illustrating various situations one may encounter in the journey of life.

From Painting to Architecture: Commonalities in Creative and Entrepreneurial Spirit

Cen Long believes, 'Life may disappear, but the various spiritual forces generated within life are eternal.' Lin Hsuan-han hopes that the faith values interpreted in Cen Long's works can be extrapolated and disseminated in appropriate venues. This has led to the upcoming exhibition at the Church of St. John in Valletta, Malta, and the choice of the preview venue, "Royal Court and Treasures," is a result of the convergence of artistic spirit and resonance with various stakeholders.

"Royal Court and Treasures" is a landmark landscape project launched by Royal Court Construction in the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts area. The magnificent and beautiful architectural hall features Cen Long's works hanging from above, presenting a reverse visual style that does not clash abruptly. Under Cen Long's brush, the calm and composed expressions of the working class reveal a resilient attitude toward life despite the hardships. Guo Min-neng, Chairman of Royal Court Construction, stated that Cen Long's work's essence is akin to the entrepreneurial spirit of the construction company. Therefore, they have collaborated with Lin Hsuan-han multiple times to provide an exhibition venue for Cen Long. Guo Min-neng's daughter, Guo Shi-jing, jokingly said, 'We usually see the superficial decorations of the buildings, but from the design of the structural system to the overall construction process, such as the binding of construction steel, the invisible parts are actually the most important. My father originally graduated from the National Taiwan University Department of Civil Engineering. Before pouring concrete, he would personally inspect each steel bar to ensure there were no issues. As the company has been consistent in its practices over the past 29 years, my father, who is nearly 70 years old, is often seen by nearby customers and friends passing by the construction site.'

Cen Long has long explored human social behavior, digging into the goodwill and positive will born from resisting harsh living conditions. He adheres to the creative philosophy of 'expressing profound humanistic meanings with the simplest painting language,' awakening viewers' attention to real-life and the essential nature of humanity in the portrayal of simple and rustic folk customs, aiming to achieve viewing values that transcend race and withstand the test of time."

ARTempero