The 2012 China Oil Painting Art Exhibition

　　During the London 2012 Olympic Games, Beijing, host of the 2008 Olympic Games, will hold the Beijing Cultural Week serial activities in London from June 24 to 31, 2012 at the invitation of London mayor’s office. On the occasion, the 2012 China Oil Painting Art Exhibition sponsored and organized by the Beijing Culture and Art Foundation and Beijing Guozijian Oil Painting Art Museum will be held in London Olympia West Hall. The exhibition will demonstrate the modern Chinese cultural mien with oil paintings in a bid to promote exchange and cooperation between Olympic sister cities.

　　The 20th century witnessed Chinese artists introducing and learning Western oil painting art, embedding it into Chinese concepts that has taken root and grown up. For the development of Chinese oil painting, this should be considered a process of collision and integration of diverse cultures, as well as self-exploration and creation.

　　Nowadays, Chinese oil painters are working with unremitting efforts to accomplish their professional goals. This exhibition has been widely acclaimed and supported by Chinese oil painters who showed their best works to the Art Committee for appraisal and selection. Granting a preference to those classical and exploratory masterpieces, the experts of the Art Committee finally selected about 100 works painted by more than 60 artists including Jin Shangyi, Zhan Jianjun, Zhong Han, Quan Shanshi, Zhang Zuying, Yan Zhenduo, Xu Jiang, Yang Yunfei, Xie Dongming, Wei Ershen, Chao Ge, Guo Runwen, Leng Jun, Liu Xiaodong, Zhao Kaikun, Duan Zhengqu and Yu Hong. We hope via these works the Olympic audience from the United Kingdom and other countries can see a colorful visage of the Chinese oil painting circle as well as the unique Chinese cultural spirit.

　　The 2012 China Oil Painting Art Exhibition has gained support from related art departments of China and the United Kingdom. All exhibited paintings are masterpieces created by influential Chinese artists of three generations. The works reflect their feelings and consideration on the life in contemporary China, as well as their cultural pursuits. The exhibition is now being held in London coincidentally with the London 2012 Olympic Games. We feel grateful for the host of the Games for granting us such an opportunity to show Chinese oil paintings that display local features and aesthetic charms to the British public on such an important occasion. We hope the exhibition will promote a better understanding of Chinese contemporary culture. We intend to make greater contributions to enhance more friendship between the Chinese and British people.