The "Yang Li: The Enlightenment of Revolution" exhibition, organized by Central Academy of Fine Arts and undertaken by the CAFA Art Museum, is the first time that Yang Li’s works are shown comprehensively in CAFA. The exhibition is one of the series exhibitions to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and also part of the "Hundred Years of Glory · CAFA Masters" exhibition program.
Yang Li, Self-portrait, 1955, pencil on paper, 32x24cm
Yan Li is a veteran Party member. In 1948, he enrolled in Yan’an University, where he took part in publicity works to greet the upcoming national liberation. In 1958, he graduated from CAFA as the first generation of graduates from the Printmaking Department. Yang Li successively worked as teacher and deputy director of the Printmaking Department, secretary of the department’s party branch and secretary of CAFA’s party committee. In 1986, he became a member of the party committee of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. While he was in CAFA, he paid attention to the academic development and cultivation of talents, and contributed greatly to the academy’s moral education. In his years in the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, he was actively involved in the preparation work for the conferences of Chinese writers and artists.
Yang li is also an experienced artist, who continued creating artworks in his spare time. Even at the age of 91, he still carried a sketchbook with him everywhere he went. He has combined his art creation and his belief, especially the Yan’an Spirit. His representative works, such as Shatan Red Building, Lights from the Cave Dwelling, Where Mao Zedong Worked in His Youth at the Peking University Library, are an imprinting of the red gene his time, as well as his loyalty and enthusiasm towards the Party.
Lights from the Cave Dwelling, 1956, pen on paper, 13.5x13.5cm
Shatan Red Building, 2011, ink and color on paper, 130x120cm, collection of CAFAM
Where Mao Zedong Worked in His Youth at the Peking University Library, 2011, ink and color on paper, 85x68cm
Upon the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, the exhibition showcases a variety of works of Yang Li created since the 1940s, along with video interview with the artist, and a range of archives. Divided into three sections, "The Light of Hope", "A Student of Art" and "Colorful World", the exhibition not only showcases the virtuous life ideal and creative enthusiasm of an artist who’s also a Party member, but also CAFA’s teaching ideas and educational achievements in the 1950s.
The exhibition is successfully held due too great support from Mr. Yang Li and his family.
About Yang Li
Yang Li's portrait photo used for application for Xi'an Luhe Middle School
Members of the art studio of the Northwest University of People's Reunion (former Yan'an University). Yang Li was on the left of the first row
Yang Li was born in Taigu, Shanxi in June 1930. He went to Yan’an in 1948 and enrolled in Yan’an University. He drew Sketches of Yan’an in 1949, and took part in the publicity work to greet the national liberation. In 1950, he took part in the moving pictures painting works in the art studio of the Northwest University of People’s Revolution. He applied to become a Party member in 1952, and became an official member in 1954. In 1953, he enrolled in Central Academy of Fine Arts, where he created works such as Old Gate of CAFA, Wild Chrysanthemum Flower. His work Countryside Scenery was shortlisted in the first National Youth Art Exhibition. In 1958, he graduated and became a teacher at Printmaking Department in CAFA, and successively worked as the department’s deputy director, party branch secretary and CAFA’s party committee deputy secretary and secretary. During his time at CAFA he applied for funding to the Printmaking Department for the development of its newly established copperplate, lithography and silk-screen printing directions, and contributed greatly to the development of the department. In 1986, he became a party committee member of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and was involved in the preparation work for the fifth conference of Chinese writers and artists. In 1988, he became the deputy secretary-general of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. His representative works include Shatan Red Building, Lights from the Cave Dwelling, Where Mao Zedong Worked in His Youth at the Peking University Library, and Fresh Green in Yan’an. His works are collected by organizations including Wu Zuoren Foundation, China Agricultural Museum, and Shaanxi History Museum. In 2016, as the CPC celebrated its 95th anniversary, he donated 12 works to CAFA. In 2019, he published a collection titled Selected Artworks of Yang Li.
Graduation photo of the CAFA Printmaking Department students who enrolled in 1978. Teachers are in the second row: Yang Li (L1), Li Hua (L4), Wang Qi (L5), 1982
Yang Li and Wu Zuoren, 1991
Yang Li in Venice, 1994
Yang Li was sketching along the Huangpu River, Shanghai, 1995
Yang Li in the middle of painting Fresh Green in Yan'an, 2009
Portrait of Mr. Yang Li
Selected Works from the Exhibition
The Light of Hope
In the winter of 1948, 18-year-old Yang Li arrived at Yan’an with his schoolmates by foot. Their journey was full of difficulties, but fortunately they had the help of underground CPC members.
The first sight of Yan’an left an enduring impression in Yang Li’s mind. He saw with his own eyes how soldiers and ordinary people were like a family, and how ordinary people could be the masters of themselves. These showed him the light of hope about the revolution, as well as a brand new China.
He was guided in his lifetime by the light of hope, which was also reflected in his art, from Sketches of Yan’an created in 1949 to the Lights from the Cave Dwelling that he kept on painting through the 1960s. The light of hope kindled in Yan’an kept shining in Yang Li’s artworks.
"Land Reform Policy Goes Wrong", 1950, watercolor on paper, 76x108cm x10
Created by the art studio of the Northwest University of People's Reunion. Members of the art studio were: Yang Li, Meng Haifeng, Lu Hongbin, Jiao Kequn, Xu Zhenyun, Luo Yafu, Fan Bin, Niu Jinghua, Wu Xiuxiao, Zhang Yun, Liu Taoran
The Flag of Marxism, 1955, monochrome woodcut, 31x42cm, collection of CAFAM
Woodcut Illustration 1 of 2: Lenin, 1956, monochrome woodcut, 35x12cm
Taihang Mountains, 1963, watercolor on paper, 34x50.5cm
Juyong Pass of the Great Wall, 1981, color woodcut, 29.5x21.5cm
Old Residence of Cai Yuanpei, 2003, pencil and pastel on paper, 54.8x37.5cm
Fresh Green in Yan'an, 2009, ink and color on paper, 128.5x67cm
Li Dazhao's Desk, 2016, ink and color on paper, 98.5x48.5cm
Lights from the Cave Dwellings, 2017, ink and color on paper, 90.5x86cm
A Student of Art
In 1953, Yang Li enrolled in Central Academy of Fine Arts. It was at a time when the academy changed its original three-year education system into five years, and was dedicated to cultivate art professionals. The Printmaking Department where he studied was also newly founded, and Yang found himself lucky to have an ideal learning environment and abundant teaching resources. Renowned Chinese artists such as Wei Qimei, Li Hu, Wang Shikuo, Li Hua, Huang Yongyu, Gu Yuan, Chen Xiaonan and Zhou Lingzhao were all his teachers.
Yang Li’s exercises in his student years at CAFA, be it sketching, printmaking or watercolor, were all a reflection of the teaching status of the academy. Every brush stroke in his paintings and every cutting line in his prints shows his deep love towards art and the old CAFA.
Still Life Sketching: Books and Ink Pen, 1953, watercolor on paper, 16x26.8cm
A corner of a CAFA classroom, 1954, watercolor on paper, 21x15cm
Mr. Bian the Experienced Technician, 1955, monochrome woodcut, 15x11cm, collection of CAFAM
Old Gate of CAFA, 1955, monochrome woodcut, 13x20cm
Countryside Scenery, 1955, color woodcut, 11.2x42.5cm
East Side of the Midstream Pillar Rock in Yellow River around Sanmenxia, 1956, watercolor on paper, 26.3x19.5cm
Otter and Swan, 1956, monochrome woodcut, 14x20cm
Factory of the Community, 1958, monochrome woodcut, 15x20.5cm
Yellow River around Sanmenxia, 1992, ink and color on paper, 45.5x68.5cm
Midstream Pillar Rock, 1992, ink and color on paper, 45x66cm
Colorful World
At age of 91, Yang Li still carries a sketchbook with him wherever he goes.
His works show traces of his life, his deep affections towards his teachers, family and friends. To research for the biography of Li Hua, he went to the place where Li Hua had lived. When his teachers like Wu Zuoren and Gu Yuan were in bad health, he showed great care and offered much help, which could be seen from his sketching of Wu Zuoren. Every New Year, he also painted greeting cards to send to his relatives and friends. This little habit that he grew into when he was studying at CAFA was kept for 26 years.
From the plant and animals he sees in daily life, to the exciting achievements of the nation, Yang Li has vividly rendered them in his paintings.
Charmingly Naive, 1956, ink and wash on paper, 69x69cm
Canna, 1980s, watercolor on paper, 27x19.5cm
Portrait of Mr. Zhang Minxin, 1986, pencil on paper, 37x27cm
Kitty and Ball of String, 1998, ink and wash on paper, 45x59.5cm
Kid Painting the River, 1990s, monochrome woodcut, 30x22cm
Selected New Year Greeting Card Illustrations by Yang Li
Home, 2005, ink and color on paper, 39.5x64.5cm
