Life of Guangzhou - Local and Foreign Artists Capture Earthquake Woes in Epic Painting

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Since May 21st, the third National Mourning Day, a myriad of oil painters from both Guangdong Province and abroad have been gathering at a studio in Guangzhou to collaborate on an epic-sized oil painting dedicated to earthquake-hit Sichuan Province. Now, the work is nearing completion.

The activity was launched by several local young painters and has attracted scores of artists to participate. Over 40 artists are currently involved in the painting, including locally celebrated Tang Xiaoming, Pan Jiajun (Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Association of Art), Lin Yongkang, Shao Zenghu and sculptor Tang Daxi. Also participating are several elite graduates from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, several military painters and even some French, American and Canadian artists.

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This kind of volunteer charity rally to paint such a monumental work of art is the first ever in the Chinese mainland, setting a benchmark in the country's history of oil painting.

The painting will be exhibited throughout China and auctioned in public. All proceeds will be donated to the quake-plagued Sichuan Province.

The group of artists mourned for the victims at the Fei Galley at 14:28 on May 21st, then began their creation of the 51.2-meter-long oil painting called "Di Jie • Chong Sheng (Catastrophe • Rebirth)".

The painting is designed to document the gloomy realism of the devastation at Ground Zero; the brave service of the Chinese army; the "relay-for-life" rescue by doctors and nurses; and, finally, to embody the collective and heroic efforts of China against such great odds.

Signs from artists of the activity for "oil painting dedicated to earthquake-hit Sichuan Province". (Lifeofguangzhou.com) [More photos]

(By Ronald Li and Stephen Roach, photo by Yang Xiaonan)

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