Liang Yi
Liang Yi, male, member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), from Wenling, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. In 1998, he graduated from the Oil Painting Department of China Academy of Art and later pursued further studies at the Graduate School of the University of Washington in the United States. He holds a Ph.D. in Chinese Painting Theory and Practice and serves as a Master's supervisor. From 2007 to 2023, he served as the Director of the Mural Painting Department at the School of Painting, China Academy of Art.
In his paintings, Liang Yi demonstrates a contemporary consciousness, drawing inspiration from the traditional Chinese long scroll format while integrating the characteristics of contemporary installation art. His work evolves from installation painting to installation murals, transitioning from subtle elegance to subtle tranquility, and moving from Western artistic expressions to the creation of an Eastern context. On one hand, Liang Yi delves into the reconstruction of traditional temple and mural art; on the other, he strives for innovation in contemporary murals as a form of public space art. His public art projects and a series of creations that combine visual elements with spatial design for venues such as the main venues of the G20 Summit and other locations demonstrate the innovative consciousness of contemporary art creators.
Part-time Positions: Vice President of the Zhejiang Branch of the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Vice President of the China Calligraphy and Painting Society, Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang Folk Artists Association, Vice President of the Zhejiang People and Nature Painting Academy, Board Member of the Zhejiang Oil Painters Association, Director of the Mural Innovation and Application Research Institute at the China Academy of Art.
His works have been featured in numerous domestic and international academic exhibitions, and he has held solo exhibitions in Seattle, USA; Paris, France; and Thessaloniki, Greece, among other locations.
Mural Peony Pavilion
Mural Peony Pavilion Medium: Mineral pigments on board
Main Artist: Liang Yi; Dimensions: 18m x 4.35m; Year: 2021
Displayed at: Suichang Railway Station Hall, Zhejiang
Mural Peony Pavilion Creation Process Images:
Peony Pavilion reveals the elegance and grace of Traditional Chinese Culture. This mural was specially created by Liang Yi for the place where Peony Pavilion was written—Suichang, Zhejiang. It is displayed in the hall of Suichang Railway Station, where it has become a visual landmark for the local area, symbolizing the deep connection between Peony Pavilion and Suichang. Suichang, historically known as "Xian County," was home to the renowned Ming Dynasty writer Tang Xianzu, who served as the county magistrate there. He was greatly beloved by the local people and introduced the Kunqu opera "Ten Tunes" to Suichang.
Later, Tang Xianzu resigned from his official post and returned to Linchuan, where he wrote Peony Pavilion and other works known as the "Linchuan Four Dreams," which were passed down to Suichang and became part of the region's intangible cultural heritage. The mural Peony Pavilion selects 12 key scenes from the play to depict the touching, timeless love story, conveying the essence of "love that arises unknowingly, growing ever deeper, where the living can die, and the dead can return to life." The scenes, from "the women's chamber" to "resurrection," are laid out in two layers, top and bottom. Between different scenes, the ancient mural technique of "mountain-hopping" is used, with clouds, mist, smoke, and fog acting as transitions, allowing the scenes to flow into each other while maintaining a sense of continuity. The use of these elements softens the overall mood and creates a sense of ethereal beauty rather than a heavy atmosphere, giving the scenes a dreamy, surreal quality. The audience can read the story from right to left, from top to bottom. The composition of the mural is inspired by the narrative structure of traditional Chinese picture scrolls and incorporates elements of Ming and Qing temple murals. However, as this literary masterpiece embodies the refined culture of the time, it also draws from the aesthetics of scroll paintings and ancient prints. This results in an artwork that closely resembles the effect of fine brushwork and heavy colors. The descriptive text accompanying the scenes is written in the style of ancient line-bound books, within the "black silk border," reflecting Peony Pavilion as the legend of Kunqu opera.
In addition, the mural The Peony Pavilion draws inspiration from various art forms, including traditional Chinese opera, modern theater, contemporary dance, and cinema. In its visual treatment, objects, plants, and animals are integrated into the background to create an immersive environment. For instance, in the scenes "Finding the Portrait" and "Admiring the Portrait", Liu Mengmei discovers Du Liniang’s portrait among the rocks and eagerly opens it to admire the painting. The transitional background features sparrows squabbling over food and frogs leaping into the water. These elements not only fill the blank spaces of the composition but also connect the two scenes, subtly hinting at Liu Mengmei's emotional journey from finding the portrait to appreciating it. Similarly, "The Interrupted Dream" and "Admiring the Portrait" are two of the story’s most climactic scenes. "The Interrupted Dream" depicts Du Liniang meeting Liu Mengmei in her dream, while in "Admiring the Portrait", Liu Mengmei's passionate calls upon seeing the portrait led to Du Liniang's spirit appearing. Although these moments are separated by several intervening episodes, they are linked by a cause-and-effect relationship.The vertical composition design serves to link the preceding and succeeding parts of the narrative, enhancing the continuity and coherence of the overall storyline.
Figure 1: Strolling in the Garden
Figure 2: Dream Interrupted
Figure 3: Secret Rendezvous
Figure 4: Admiring the Portrait
Figure 5: Judgment in the Afterlife
Solo Exhibitions:
2017: Turning Back to Sincerity - Contemporary Art Experimental Center, Thessaloniki, Greece (duo exhibition)
2016: Dual Reading - Commemorating the Centenary of Chinese Laborers in France, Paris
2008: Seemingly True but False - Hanhouse, Hangzhou
2007: Serendipity - Linda Haojushi Gallery, Seattle, USA
2000: Breaking Boundaries - Duo Landscape Painting Exhibition, China Academy of Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
Recent Major Exhibitions:
2022: A Century of Zhejiang Oil Painting - Zhejiang Art Museum
2022: The Brilliance of Space - Shanghai Mural Invitational Exhibition, Shanghai Future Art Center
2022: Exuberant Sky and Wind - Zhejiang Oil Painting Academy Exhibition, Kuiyuan Art Museum
2021: Heart and Dimension- Chinese Artists Association Mural Art Committee Invitation Exhibition, Zhoushan Art Museum
2020: Ode to Unity - Tribute to the Heroes of the Pandemic and China Academy of Art Online Teaching Exhibition, China Academy of Art Museum
2019: The Grand Chinese Mural Exhibition, Henan Art Museum
2018: 12th China Art Festival National Excellent Artworks Exhibition, China Art Palace
2017: Thessaloniki International Art Festival, Thessaloniki Cultural Center
2017: Round and Round - International Higher Art Institutions Public Visual Art Exchange Exhibition, Shanghai Hongmiao Art Center
2016: Alo Biennale, Alo City Art Museum, France
2015: City's Outer Garment - National Higher Art Institutions Academic Exchange Exhibition, Shanghai Hongmiao Art Center
2014: The Grand Chinese Mural Exhibition, Central Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum
2012: Datong International Mural Biennale, Datong Heyang Art Museum
2011: National Mural Masters Invitational Exhibition, Nanchang Art Museum
2011: Awarded Works of Zhejiang Youth Art Exhibition, Taizhou Art Museum
2011: The Frontline - Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China, Zhejiang Art Museum
2011: Chinese Oil Painting Research Exhibition, Chengdu Art Museum
2007: Observing Things - First Sketching Biennale, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum
2007: Joy in the Collective, Joy in the Individual - Public Art Research and Creation Exhibition, Japan-China Friendship Art Museum
2007: China Contemporary Art Exhibition, Madrid Art Museum
2007: Art Tokyo, Tokyo Art Museum
2007: Contemporary Chinese Art Exhibition in Switzerland, Geneva Art Museum
