MUSEUM OF EAST ASIAN ART Animal Kingdom

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6th April 2010 – For immediate release

Picture Attached

Take a walk on the wild side at the Museum of East Asian Art

From Saturday 1st May 2010 until Sunday 29th August 2010, the Museum of East Asian Art

will become a jungle of delights with their new exhibition “Animal Kingdom: Paintings by Li

Fuyuan”. Animal Kingdom, exhibited in partnership with ArtChinese, is sure to delight

visitors of all ages, and will be opened on the 1st of May with a tour and demonstration by the

artist, Mr Li, at 2pm.

China has one of the greatest diversities of wildlife in the world, so it is of no surprise that

throughout history animals have become significant in Chinese art and culture. Historically

many different animals have come to be used as auspicious symbols in Chinese art,

representing good fortune such as luck, prosperity, wealth and long life.

Given the intrinsic connection between animals and art in China, it is little wonder that

animals are also the inspiration of modern works, such as these stunning paintings by Li

Fuyuan. Mr Li uses brush painting techniques with stunning effects. His works are full of

bold, contrasting colours and elements that compose a visual melody of a fantastically

cacophonous world. The abstract shapes work together to form the images of animals that

are at once incorporated into a dramatic landscape but yet burst out from the background to

stare at the audience with as much interest and curiosity as the inquisitive humans eyes on

the other side of the glazed frames.

To open the exhibition, Li Fuyuan and Jimmy Lek, Director of ArtChinese, will be giving

a tour of “Animal Kingdom” on Saturday May 1st from 2pm until 3pm, which will end

with Mr Li giving a painting demonstration. Li Fuyuan was born in Kunming, China in

1942 and attended the Beijing Art Academy. He was later appointed a lecturer at the Beijing

Art Professional College whilst continuing with his own personal art. His works have been

exhibited in the UK, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and several pieces

have been sold at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong. As Mr Li is visiting the UK only for a short time for

the opening of this exhibition, this tour is not to be missed!

Art critic and Fellow at the China Academy of Arts, Zhai Mo, commented, “The dark coloured

birds, fishes and animals came alive under his brush one after another. To be bold and yet

in control when creating, finding balance and calmness when emotions run wild is the

hallmark of a great artist.”

The Museum of East Asian Art is pleased to host this visually stunning exhibition that will

enchant visitors young and old.

Since opening its doors to the public in 1993, the Museum of East Asian Art has been a

beacon of East Asian art and culture in the west of England and houses one of the most

remarkable collections of art from this part of the world in the United Kingdom. The Museum

is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Sundays from 12noon until 5pm and 10am

to 5pm most bank holiday Mondays.

Private View in the presence of the artist : Friday 30 April 2010, 6pm – 8pm

Please RSVP : info@artchinese.co.uk

END

Picture Details

“Tiger, 2008” ink & colour on paper 46 x 46 cm

Li Fuyuan and friend – portrait of the artist

For more information, high resolution images or photo opportunities, please do not

hesitate to contact me.

The Museum of East Asian Art

12 Bennett Street

Bath BA1 2QJ

In partnership with

Linsi Parker-Turner

Press Officer

info@meaa.org.uk

01225 464 640