Artist Liu Yuyi will attend the premiere of a documentary movie about his life made by Hollywood film producer and director Chris D. Nebe in the United States in October.

Liu, who is well-known for his oil paintings with a historical theme, is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

When he attended the annual sessions this year, many other CPPCC members asked him to pose with them for photographs in front of two of his paintings on the wall in the Great Hall of the People, where the sessions were held.

As an oil painting master, he has donated 15 artworks to the nation during the past 20 years, and they are all displayed in prominent places such as the Great Hall, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tian'anmen rostrum and the Central Military Office Building.

Nebe saw a portfolio of Liu's paintings by accident last summer in the home of a mutual friend. He decided he wanted to meet the painter.

The two men met in Beijing, and Liu showed Nebe one of his paintings, featuring the 2008 Olympic Games, that is 112 meters long and 5 meters high and contains 2,008 figures. The director was impressed by the perseverance in Liu's art.

Records broken

Nebe decided to make a documentary about Liu's life and work to help foreigners know more about the artist and modern Chinese art.

Filming will take place in five cities - Zigong in Sichuan province; Nanjing in Jiangsu province; Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region; Hong Kong; and Beijing. Postproduction is expected to be completed in September.

Liu, 75, spent his childhood in Zigong and Nanjing before moving to Guilin, where he spent 27 years. In 1991, he went to Hong Kong and decided to paint 300 outstanding ethnic Chinese from all walks of life. This project will reach completion this year after more than 20 years of work.

From 1993 to 1997, Liu's paintings broke the record price for contemporary art by Chinese artists four times at art auctions in Hong Kong. Since that time, he has never put any of his work up for auction.

"I don't need too much money as I already feel comfortable with my life," he said.

Beijing Normal University invited Liu to come back to Beijing in 2011 and established an art institute named after him.

Liu is the head of the institute and has 10 painters, ages 25 to 30, studying under him. The institute is cultivating the talent of painters who can create prominent historical themes.

"I hope the young painters take their time to study literature, art and philosophy, which will all help them to produce better work," Liu said. "There should be no rushing in the path of art."

dujuan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 03/25/2015 page6)