Beijing Olympics

Beijing Olympics Series

Click to visit Beijing Olympics Press

Dr. Chen was very inspired to paint a series of paintings in homage to the Olympic Games, not only because of its historical significance to China, but also because he saw that it is a “sports for humanity’s sake” instead of just “sports for sports’ sake” This is in alignment with his art style of Neo-Iconography, which is an “art for humanity’s sake” instead of just an “art for art’s sake”. Both of these also correspond to the Chinese cultural tradition of forging a world family in harmony and peace. Dr. Chen produced 66 Olympic artworks, exhibiting them before, after, and during the Game in 5 museum shows with artworks of “Temple of Heaven series” as well as “Humanity” series all together in his “Art for Humanity” World Tour, besides publication of his Olympics series in an art book.

 Dr. Chen wrote: “Since the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing promises to be an unforgettable event, as China wholeheartedly embrace its role as the host, this occasion will mark a golden moment in the Peaceful Arising of a new China since its Reform and Open Up in 1978, China is planning an Olympic Event of superior standing, infused with Chinese taste, color and style. They have created three directing principles---Green, Technological, and Humanistic as well as the rallying slogan of “One World, One Dream”. They are preparing an extraordinary Festival of global proportion and participation, inviting all human beings to come together, hand in hand, heart to heart, to realize the athletic values of “excellence, friendship, and respect” as well as human value of “Harmony, Prosperity, and Peace.”

 The outcome of the Beijing Olympics is a big success, even the most accomplished Event in the history of the Modern Olympic Games with more than 10 million athletes and visitors crowded to create the Occasion. As for Dr. Chen’s Beijing Olympics series, Lawrence Jeppson said: “As I study these paintings, I am stuck by their variety, esthetic marvels (the equestrian paintings), elegance (the discus thrower), and frequent complexity (the five rings superimposed on a Jackson Pollock Drip masterpiece, surrounded by Asiatic figures and French doves of peace), and cunning (the panel of Chinese calligraphic figures, many of which are actual depiction of Olympic sports).