The exhibition "Journey to Hidden Realms: Xu Li's Oil Paintings" will be held from October 15 to 19 at the China Cultural Center in Tokyo, Japan.

Wang Baosheng, Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Cultural Figures/Photo Report



Xu Li, renowned painter and former Secretary of the Leading Party Group and Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association



Xu Li is creating traditional Chinese painting



Xu Li merges the intrinsic qualities of oil painting with the techniques of traditional Chinese art, forging an artistic path that harmonizes Eastern and Western influences while preserving cultural heritage



Xu Li is creating oil painting



Sacred Mountain (90×90cm, 2013) By Xu Li



Miles into Cloud Peaks (120×90cm, 2013) By Xu Li



Verdant Waters Abode (120×80cm, 2011) By Xu Li



Rhythm (120×90cm, 2011) By Xu Li



Secluded Waters (120×90cm, 2012) By Xu Li



Green Peaks of Yellow Mountain (120×90cm, 2012) By Xu Li



Summer Day (80×80cm, 2012) By Xu Li



Vague Perception of Traces (90×90cm, 2013) By Xu Li



Summer Lotus (50×40cm,2013) By Xu Li



Mutual Admiration (120×90cm, 2013) By Xu Li



Reminiscence (100×80cm, 2014) By Xu Li



Dancing Peaks and Flying Clouds (100×80cm, 2014) By Xu Li



Mists Rising, Mountains Unveiling (100×80cm, 2014) By Xu Li



Spring Rain in the Valley (120×60cm, 2015) By Xu Li



Racing Ahead (120×70cm, 2015) By Xu Li



Eternal (100×80cm, 2016) By Xu Li



Cascading Radiance (120×60cm, 2016) By Xu Li



Home (90×90cm, 2017) By Xu Li



Warbler's Time (120×90cm, 2019) By Xu Li



Zen Joy (100×80cm, 2021) By Xu Li



Dialogue (100×80cm, 2021) By Xu Li



Age of Tranquility (100×80cm, 2021) By Xu Li



Sunny Day (100×80cm, 2021) By Xu Li



Exploring the Depths (100×80cm, 2021) By Xu Li



Journey's End (100×80cm, 2021) By Xu Li



Hidden Charm (100×80cm, 2021) By Xu Li



Childlike Wonder (120×90cm, 2023) By Xu Li



Clear Waves and Green Lotus (50×40cm, 2024) By Xu Li



Verdant Splendor (50×40cm, 2024) By Xu Li



Summer Rhythm of the Lotus Pond (50×40cm, 2024) By Xu Li



Phantom of the Green Forest (50×40cm, 2024) By Xu Li



Wild Rhythm of the Green Forest (50×40cm, 2024) By Xu Li



Green Forest Dreams (50×40cm, 2024) By Xu Li



Wonderland in the Green (50×40cm, 2024) By Xu Li



Autumn Charm of Canyon Peaks (50×40cm, 2024) By Xu Li



Pastoral Song of Snowy Peaks (50×40cm, 2024) By Xu Li
 

Chinese Cultural Figures (Editor-in-Chief Wang Baosheng)To promote cultural exchange between China and Japan and showcase the achievements and spiritual outlook of contemporary Chinese art, the exhibition "Journey to Hidden Realms: Xu Li's Oil Paintings" will be held from October 15 to 19 at the China Cultural Center in Tokyo, Japan. The event is organized by China Cultural Figures Magazine, CCTV Calligraphy and Painting Channel, and Hong Kong Fengxi Era Group, and co-organized by the China Cultural Center in Tokyo and the Japan Oriental Calligraphy and Painting Art Association. Supporting organizations include the Cultural Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Japan, the Tokyo Overseas Chinese Association, the Japan-China Friendship Association, the Tokyo Japan-China Friendship Association, the Japan-China Association, the Japan Chinese Calligraphers Association, and the Chinese News Weekly, among others.
The exhibition will present Xu Li's oil paintings and demonstrate his latest explorations in blending Eastern and Western artistic approaches.
Xu Li is one of the most prominent contemporary Chinese artists and a recognized leader in the circle of fine arts. He integrates the inherent language of oil painting with techniques from traditional Chinese painting, incorporates the freehand style of Chinese ink painting and borrows the composition, layout, atmosphere, and charm of traditional landscape painting. Also, his brushwork and color choices showcase the distinctive language and modern aesthetic of oil painting.
For decades, Xu Li has maintained an artistic enthusiasm for embracing the spirit of the times, establishing his artistic position within the context of contemporary development. This reflects his lofty cultural ideals and firm cultural consciousness. In his roles within the art community, he has been dedicated and committed, investing tremendous effort with integrity and sincerity. Particularly during his tenure as Secretary of the Leading Party Group and Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association, he courageously shouldered the responsibility of developing Chinese art in the new era. He has united and led artists in firmly implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important directives on literary and artistic work, organizing major thematic art creation projects, and promoting Chinese art to reflect the times, serve the people, and scale new heights in Chinese literature and art. Xu has tirelessly promoted the evolution of Chinese art to ensure that it meets the expectations of the times and the people. His invaluable contributions have significantly advanced Chinese art in the modern era.
Xu Li is a renowned painter and has held numerous significant positions, including Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Member of the CPPCC Committee on Culture, History and Learning, Secretary of the Leading Party Group, Executive Vice Chairman, and Secretary-General of the China Artists Association, Director of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles' Art Center; Chairman of the Art Committee of the China Artists Association, and Chief Judge and Director of the Jury for national art exhibitions and major national art projects. He has also held positions as Director of the Fine Arts Creation Committee of Major National Art Projects, Deputy Director of the CPPCC Calligraphy and Painting Studio, Vice President of the Chinese Association for International Understanding, and Deputy Director of the Office for the "Chinese Civilization Historical Themes Art Creation Project" jointly organized by the Publicity Department, Ministry of Finance, China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Xu Li served as Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Creation Guidance Committee for the "Art Creation Project Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party". He is a member of the China Calligraphers Association, First Vice Chairman and Advisor of the China Literary and Art Volunteers’ Association, Advisor to the Li Keran Academy of Painting, specially appointed painter at Rong Bao Zhai, specially invited expert of the Silk Road Forum, researcher at the Academy of Chinese Painting of the Art Development Center of the Ministry of Culture, researcher at the Palace Museum Research Institute, Vice Chairman of the Inaugural Council at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Distinguished Professor at China Academy of Art, Guest Professor at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Expert Advisor at Academy of Arts & Design，Tsinghua University, Researcher at the China National Academy of Painting, Distinguished Professor at Lawyer College Renmin University of China, Adjunct Professor at Xiamen University, Honorary Professor at Fujian Normal University, Guest Professor at Xiamen Academy of Arts and Design, Fuzhou University, Adjunct Professor and Honorary Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Huaqiao University, Guest Professor at Jimei University, Board Member of the National Museum of China Foundation, and Honorary Dean of Chengdu Academy of Fine Arts, Sichuan Conservatory of Music. He is also the Director of the China Institute of Calligraphy and Painting Arts, a member of the 10th National Committee of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and serves as a professor and doctoral supervisor at institutions including the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Academy of Fine Arts, Chinese National Academy of Arts, Communication University of China, Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, and Macau University of Science and Technology.
Xu Li's works have been consistently selected for major national exhibitions, including the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th National Art Exhibitions held every five years, as well as the 20th Century Chinese Oil Painting Exhibition and other significant national exhibitions. His works have won awards or been collected and displayed by important domestic museums and government institutions, including the National Art Museum of China, National Museum of China, Great Hall of the People, Museum of the Communist Party of China, Memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Memorial of the South Lake Revolution, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, and Zhongnanhai. Some of his works have been presented as state gifts to foreign leaders by Chinese party and state leaders.
Xu Li's works have been collected by the Rockefeller family. He is the only individual artist whose oil paintings are collected and displayed at the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Italy. Oil Paintings of Xu Li has been published and distributed in Italy. He has been awarded the title of Honorary Academician by the Russian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Surikov Gold Medal by the Union of Russian Artists, the Chevalier Des Arts Orientaux from Belgium, and the Outstanding Cultural Figure Medal from Kyrgyzstan. He has also received the "Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award" from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the Ukrainian Ambassador's Award, among others. Xu Li has led delegations to visit dozens of countries and regions across major continents and hold art exhibitions in these places. He has published over twenty personal art albums.
During his leadership at the China Artists Association, Xu Li organized and implemented multiple major national thematic art creation projects, promoted Chinese art to new heights, and facilitated international exchanges, making significant contributions to the development of Chinese art in the new era.
Regarding Xu Li's academic contributions in Chinese painting and oil painting, Fan Di'an praised his insight into the principles of Chinese and foreign art creation, especially through his study of important experiences in Chinese fine arts over the past century and described his style as innovative, grand, and uniquely constructed for academic significance. Jin Shangyi noted that the "Xu Li phenomenon" in the art world is quite extraordinary and notable.

(Editors: Zhang Yan and Liu Sheng)