[Concurrent] Lin Tianxing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Art Association
(1984) came to Hong Kong as a colony, then returned to the motherland in 1997.
A very important and exciting moment, when we returned to the motherland in Hong Kong, and then I saw our troops walk in quietly from the port, and there was an indescribable warm feeling in my heart.
[Commentary] Recalling the night that attracted worldwide attention 25 years ago, Hong Kong artist Lin Tianxing is still full of emotion today.
Born at the foot of a mountain called Lotus Peak in central Fujian, Lin Tianxing studied oil painting and Chinese painting from many famous masters when he was a teenager, and sketched from life all over the country, covering more than ten provinces and cities.
In 1984, 20-year-old Lin Tianxing moved to Hong Kong with his father and set foot on this magical and strange land for the first time.
[Concurrent] Lin Tianxing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Art Association
I came to Hong Kong at the age of 21. In 1984, I remember that I arrived in Hong Kong on New Year's Day. When I arrived in Hong Kong, I felt that there were no trees on the streets in Hong Kong. Hong Kong only has high-rise buildings and no trees. Because I like trees myself, I draw landscapes, which Hong Kong gives me. my impression.
It was like this in Hong Kong back then, and then it was mainly Western paintings, and there were more people painting Western paintings in Hong Kong.
At that time, there were no galleries, and few people bought paintings, especially if you were not well-known, it would be even more impossible.
But because I love art very much, art is life to me, without art, there is no life, so I have no turning back, I just like it, so I have persisted until now.
[Explanation] In the early 1980s, Western painting was still the mainstream of Hong Kong art, and there were only a handful of professional painters.
After Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, elites from the mainland, especially from the Guangdong art world, frequently traveled between Guangdong and Hong Kong. Many foreign painters returned from studying in the West. Most of them stopped or settled in Hong Kong. golden age.
[Concurrent] Lin Tianxing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Art Association
In the 25 years since the handover, the whole of Hong Kong has undergone earth-shaking changes. In terms of culture and art, there are many "post-80s" and "post-90s" young people who pursue art. Some go to study abroad, and some go to the mainland to study art.
Because there are more and more galleries in Hong Kong now, and these institutions all need these artistic talents.
As long as you paint well, you don’t have to worry about no one wanting or appreciating it now. The times are still changing a lot.
There is a good environment and a good exhibition place. He (artist) gets some pursuits and a good atmosphere of communication. I think this is very important for artists, so that they will continue to work hard to create new art.
[Explanation] In the eyes of Lin Tianxing, the transformation since the return to the Pearl of the Orient, which was once ridiculed as a "cultural desert", has brought a different kind of artistic vitality.
In 2005, Lin Tianxing was invited by the Ministry of Culture of China to paint a work that could represent Hong Kong and lift off with the "Shenzhou VI" spacecraft.
Trees, village houses, buses, cooking smoke in the New Territories, and the scenery of Victoria Harbour, these are collective memories of Hong Kong people. Through the hands of Lin Tianxing, they are vividly on the paper, showing the colorful and vibrant Hong Kong style to the world.
[Concurrent] Lin Tianxing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Art Association
At that time I thought, because I like the New Territories very much, because the New Territories are very unique.
So I think the special beauty of the New Territories is that it has the feeling of a modern city, and then in a few minutes you can walk into the forest, you can be with nature, it has temperature and life, So I drew a picture of the New Territories, which represented Hong Kong.
[Explanation] In addition to his creation, Lin Tianxing, who has lived in Hong Kong for many years, also holds many social positions.
He is committed to promoting Chinese painting and Chinese calligraphy education in universities, middle and primary schools in Hong Kong, integrating teaching into art, so that young people in Hong Kong can more vividly understand and understand the history and culture of their own country and nation through art.
[Concurrent] Lin Tianxing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Art Association
Because more and more young people in Hong Kong are learning painting, more and more companies and institutions need artistic talents, and our society is also more and more in need of artistic accomplishment.
So I think that after Hong Kong's return after so many years, we should start from primary school and give them calligraphy education and Chinese painting education, which are an important part of our Chinese culture.
Because from art education, we can reflect that it is very important that you recognize the country and our own culture.
For example, like Chinese calligraphy, which country in the world uses its own writing as an artistic carrier, there is no one, only China, Chinese calligraphy, and Chinese writing is art.
[Explanation] The openness and tolerance of Hong Kong society has fostered Lin Tianxing's inclusive artistic attitude.
In his view, in addition to sticking to its own culture, the exchange and mutual learning with different cultures in the world is the "source of living water" to maintain Hong Kong's unique artistic charm, and it is also the key to Hong Kong's future advantages in the global art forest.
[Concurrent] Lin Tianxing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Art Association
Hong Kong's innate advantages are very important, that is, Hong Kong's diversity, openness, and Hong Kong's international perspective. These three things are the uniqueness of Hong Kong and the highest value to Hong Kong. If you lose it, these will be meaningless. .
Because Hong Kong has always been in line with the world, its vision is very broad, so it has never left the international stage.
To create an atmosphere, let artists from all over the world want to come to Hong Kong to live and create.
At this time, Hong Kong's real international cultural and art exchange center has arrived.
Reporter Fan Siyi Luo Siyu Liang Yuan Hong Kong reports
Responsible editor: [Ye Pan]