Recently, Forward, a lacquer painting by Dong Guanlin, a master’s student in Urban Public Art at the School of Fine Arts, was successfully selected for the 14th China Art Festival — National Exhibition of Outstanding Works of Fine Art.
Among numerous entries, the lacquer painting Forward stood out for its distinctive artistic language and profound spiritual depth, earning a place on the stage of this national cultural and artistic event. Centered on the image of a steam locomotive, the work adopts a visually striking, strictly frontal perspective to transform this emblematic symbol of industrial civilization into a towering “monument of steel.” In its creative approach, the artist abandons complex coloration and instead uses the deep, mysterious black unique to lacquer as the tonal foundation. Through repeated coating, meticulous polishing, and other traditional techniques, the lacquer layers achieve a warm yet weighty texture. The brushwork reveals both the austere, angular structure of steel and the subtle shimmer inherent to lacquer, infusing the cold mechanical imagery with a sense of human warmth.
Title: Forward
Artist: Dong Guanlin
Instructor: Xin Ligang
Dimensions: 160 cm × 120 cm
Type: Lacquer painting
Year: 2025
In recent years, under the guidance of Associate Professor Xin Ligang, the lacquer painting studio of the School of Fine Arts has adhered to the teaching philosophy of “modernizing traditional lacquer art and localizing contemporary creation.” This approach has nurtured batches of young artists who possess both traditional craftsmanship and innovative thinking. Their works have repeatedly achieved excellent results at national and provincial exhibitions.
According to available information, the artworks featured in this year’s Art Festival were selected through open submissions, recommendations, and special invitations. From tens of thousands of entries, more than 1,120 outstanding pieces were chosen, including over 510 fine art works, 320 calligraphy and seal-engraving pieces, and 290 photographs. The selected works focus on themes of the era and draw inspiration from real, vibrant life. During the festival, a series of academic forums, public education events, and other supporting activities will also be held, further expanding the breadth and depth of artistic exchange and aesthetic education. The China Art Festival, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and local governments, is a national cultural event of both extensive reach and broad public participation.
Some text and images sourced from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development
By Xiao Qiang, Wang Fan, Huang Yunya and Liu Jin