The Unseen Passageways: Cen Long and His Art

Born on the same day, Italo Calvino and Cen Long, with their Invisible Cities and unseen passageways, allow us to experience the marvel of leaping beyond the barriers of reality. Masterpieces never fade away with time; the power they hold to stir the soul only strengthens in an increasingly modern world.

Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities (1972) is an extraordinary literary work. Reading this book, one can hear the music emanating from a particular city or catch the scent wafting from another. Sometimes it seems as if you can hear the chatter of crowds, and at other times, you feel like you are walking through different cities. Calvino's magical words construct concrete dimensions of time and space while transcending the boundaries between reality and fiction, allowing for multiple interpretations and leaving readers in awe. As a researcher of Cen Long's art, I often sense a similar enchantment in Cen Long's works. While Calvino employs words to create, Cen Long uses painting to express. The commonality lies in their seamless integration of the real and the unreal, offering viewers the freedom to imagine in their minds.

The characters in Cen Long's paintings, much like the cities in Invisible Cities, represent not actual individuals but rather vague and unreal figures from reality. Through these fictional characters, people are prompted to reacquaint themselves with familiar faces from the past or those who were once close companions. The characters he creates are nothing more than vague fragments of past and present people. Through these fragments, he reassembles our individual mental understanding and definition of "humanity."

Sensitive artists act as barometers of human history. During the outbreak of the major epidemic, Cen Long found himself in lockdown in Wuhan, the initial epicenter of the outbreak, where people were in panic and felt helpless. Therefore, his emotions were constantly influenced by the changing situation of the pandemic. "Passing" (2020) is a true reflection of his emotions at that time—anger, blame, pity, and more—a series of emotional expressions that drove him to create this piece. He said, "We are subjects of nature. The arrival of this epidemic made me deeply ponder the questions of who we are, where we come from, and where we are going. The innocent passing of fellow citizens is extremely painful and helpless. I often can't help but want to shout out loud." He portrayed these feelings in his artwork, stating, "Countless beings toil throughout their lives, all for the most basic survival." Cen Long expressed his genuine feelings about the omnipresence of the epidemic through his art.

This artwork represents all the common people through eight characters, and the story seems to unfold from the middle-aged person who has already passed away on the lower right... We see the helplessness of the masses; the elderly lose their children, women lose their husbands, children lose their fathers. Faced with the sudden departure, they grieve and can only bewilderingly ask the heavens, "Why is this happening?" This is the first masterpiece carefully crafted by Cen Long for an academic exhibition scheduled to take place in March 2022 at Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo in Venice. "Passing" once again prompts us to contemplate and reflect on "life." In addition to the profound spiritual level, to echo Western art history, the composition may initially resemble "Lamentation of Christ," but it is a unique earthly purgatory experienced by Cen Long.

"Passing" creates several invisible spiritual passages, causing me to empathize endlessly with the characters in the painting. I can't help but look up at the stars, yearning for the mercy of the Creator, seeking redemption, and at the same time, pondering the meaning of my existence.

I remember the curated exhibition "Starry Sky Starlight—Cen Long and His Art" at the Church of St. John in Valletta, Malta, in 2019. One of the significant works, "The Constellations" (2019), features shining starlight watching over a diligent shepherdess, illuminating the way home in the dark night. The girl looking up at the starry sky feels the divine mercy, unafraid of the challenges of nature, showcasing the immense influence of steadfast faith on human nature. Cen Long created omnipresent light in the painting, concealing the merciful and kind Creator. There is an invisible passage leading to the heavens, unseen by the naked eye.

Tens of thousands of global viewers strongly resonate with the spiritual power of Cen Long's works. Hence, an exhibition invitation emerged in December 2020 (postponed to March 2022 due to the pandemic)—co-curated by an Italian archaeologist and me. Besides showcasing Cen Long's oil paintings, three artifacts, dating back hundreds of years, were selected from the Association of Monuments' collection. These include a Jesus Christ stone carving, a wooden Madonna, and a Madonna with angels, along with a precious painting: "Paradise," a masterpiece by the late Renaissance artist Tintoretto (1518-1594). Tintoretto's mastery of mysterious colors and control of numerous figures in composition amazed Cen Long. The sincere and simple religious sentiments conveyed by the sculptures resonated strongly with Cen Long, sparking a desire to engage in a dialogue.

The bridge connecting the 14th to the 21st century is precisely the aforementioned sentiments, the return and representation of pure spiritual essence. Cen Long believes, "No matter how much the world has changed, the reverence and dedication to truth, goodness, and beauty remain an eternal pursuit." For this exhibition, Cen Long plans to complete four works larger than No. 100 and 12 works specifically delineating individual characters in No. 40. In addition to "Passing," he has already completed "In Pursuit of Light." Starlight is the only hope for people, the hope of life that should not be forcibly taken away by evil forces. Survival is the ultimate bottom line for humanity. Cen Long believes, "Human nature is inherently good and should not be deprived!" Starlight represents hope, and if hope is lost, the world will be plunged into darkness. Where will we go from there?

Invisible Cities lead us into beautiful and dreamy cities, while invisible passages take us to places that are close to heaven, intangible but seemingly everywhere. Calvino said, "The more you get lost in unfamiliar neighborhoods in distant cities, the more you understand the towns passed through to reach that city. Looking back to trace the journey, reacquainting with the harbor of departure, the squares in Venice where you ran around as a child, and everything around your home." Cen Long says, "The distance is an infinitely wide and free world, a pure and flawless land."

This is the exhibition I want to curate, "Invisible Passages"; love from above, love on earth, the paradise above, and the human world below. Born on the same day, Italo Calvino and Cen Long, with their invisible cities and unseen passages, allow us to experience the marvel of leaping beyond the barriers of reality. Masterpieces never fade away with time; the power they hold to stir the soul only strengthens in an increasingly modern world.

Source｜Artouch / Author｜Metra Lin

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