In the past, all the artistic and cultural information about mainland China and former Soviet Union were not allowed to publish in Taiwan. I did not know much about the development of them until i read the book " Look at the Art of Mainland from Overseas" by Chen Ying-The. In 1987, Taiwanese were finally able to visit mainland. Since then, I started to get more opportunities to collect Chinese Arts.
It was also in 1987, when I went to Beijing for the organization of the "Exchange Exhibition of Mainland China and Taiwan Artists" that I travelled around the great land and got to know about Sichuan Fine Art Institute as well as Luo Zhongli.
Look back after 20 years, the city development of Chongqing today is a miracle. When I first arrived there in 1987, the roads were rugged, and the bus-windows were broken while the streets were all dark at night. When I met Luo Zhongli and later got to know He Duoling, Ye Yongqing, Pang Maokun, Yan Yan, Li Qiang, Zhang Jie and witnessed the environment the artist lived in, I realized how tough and difficult it was for the artists. Since then, I started to help financially and collect the paintings of artists from SCFAI and later planed to establish a museum. That is why I always have special feelings to Sichuan Fine Art Institute.
It has been more than 20 years since I first met the institute and Luo Zhongli. They both take the most important status in today's Chinese art market as well as the contemporary art area. I feel lucky and satisfied that I’ve been able to collect so many excellent art work from SCFAI and share its joy of success.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Sichuan Fine Art Institute, Mountain Art Foundation is going to present the early work of more than 40 teachers and students who have witnessed and devoted to the development of SCFAI. Though some of them have given up their pursuit for art, most of the artists are still making efforts to achieve success.
I would like to show my gratitude to all those friends who have given helps to Mountain Art Foundation. They are Shao Dazhen, Xi Jingzhi, Luo Zhongli, Ai Xuan, Luo Qunyi, Li Qirong, Wang Longsheng, Pang Maokun, Feng Bin and Hsieh Suchen. And I also appreciate the long-term supports given by the chairman of the foundation to arts and commonweal.
Mountain Art Foundation
Lin Mingzhe |