He Duoling (R)   Photo/Yu Peiying (NBD)

Apr. 30 (NBD) -- "This is my first collection of He Duoling's works," said an anonymous collector to National Business Daily (NBD), rejoicing at his purchase during the 2019 Art Chengdu International Contemporary Art Fair (the "2019 Art Fair"). He Duoling is a pioneer of Chinese Contemporary Lyric Realist painters. 

The 2019 Art Fair kicked off on April 28 at the New International Convention and Exhibition Center, along with other 30 art events and exhibitions unveiled since last week in southwest China's Chengdu. The fair is on till May 2. 

"Chengdu boasts abundant artists and rich cultural heritage, and I believe Chengdu's contemporary art will thrive as galleries and international art fairs grow," Chengdu born He Duoling said in an interview with NBD.

City under spotlight of art 

With the turnover reaching 80 million yuan (about 12 million U.S. dollars) last year, the 2019 Art Fair witnesses undiluted enthusiasm of visitors. "Although it has been less than five hours since launching, our gallery has made a considerable volume of transactions," shared Olivier Hervet from HdM Gallery. 

The five-day event welcomes 46 galleries and institutions all over the world and hundreds of masterpieces and avant-garde works are showcased in the exhibition. 

Well-known Japanese art gallery Whitestone Gallery presents paintings of Yayoi Kusama and Yoshitomo Nara. D Space from Chengdu Blue Roof Art District displays artworks by He Duoling.

Chengdu's art sector is being activated by diverse art events and the city is further stepping into the spotlight in the art world.

"Exhibitions and art fairs establish a platform to communicate between artists and collectors, between works of art and people," said famous oil painter Zhou Chunya in an interview with NBD. Zhou ranked the top among "Top 100 Chinese Artists Alive Today" released by Hurun Beijing in 2013, with his works' turnover touching 470 million yuan.

International communication plays a significant role in art development and thus a narrow and conservative approach is doomed to fail. "Only a diversified artistic communication could stimulate the art development of Chengdu and improve aesthetic tastes of people here," underlined Zhou.

The demand for international communication exactly corresponds to the inclusiveness Chengdu embodies. "Chengdu has its Tianfu culture but it also embraces cultures from other regions," Huang Yu, the founder of Art Chengdu, said to NBD.

Photo/Yu Peiying (NBD)

Artistically endowed land

Since 1998 when Upriver Gallery, one of China's first private galleries, was established in Chengdu, the city has been fostering the ecology of contemporary art.

Known as "the Land of Abundance", the provincial capital in southwest China is also imbued with creative artists.

"Chengdu has the largest number of young painters across the country, forming its own artist milieu in the city. Predecessors like us or post-90s artists, a considerable number of people are engaged in art," He Duoling said, when asked about his impression of Chengdu's art atmosphere.

Zhou Chunya, from a different angle, noticed the city's artistic genes. "Chengdu embraces a long history which constitutes the bedrock of an artistic city," Zhou noted.

"Besides, Chengdu natives take a keen interest in promoting art to thrive in this city. Having a stronger interest for art expression and a growing desire to participate in, they are increasingly eager for art diversity," explained Zhou.

Hervet from HdM Gallery was impressed by the flourishing artist circles here but pointed out certain immaturity of the city's art sector. "The development of the art market here is still lagging behind without widely known auction houses and galleries."

He Duoling echoed Hervet's view, saying, "Chengdu is a base more for creation than for exhibition. Even though there are many excellent artists, they are likely to hold more exhibitions in other cities. Artists display exhibitions in different genres whereby collectors have access to pre-eminent modern and contemporary art. However, there does not witness a cluster of collectors in Chengdu."

Being the third top art city in China, Chengdu endeavors to boost its art market.

Last year, the number of Chengdu's art spaces exceeded 200, from government funded Museum of Contemporary Art Chengdu to private owned Blue Roof Museum of Chengdu, Luxelakes•A4 Art Museum and A thousand Plateaus Art Space. 

"Currently over 20 of all art spaces are active art event organizers and they curated about 150 related activities in 2018," a source with Chengdu's art authorities revealed to NBD.

Email: gaohan@nbd.com.cn