An art exhibit by local artist Longhua Xu opening in October, will include 40 paintings of people of all ages, races and shapes — everything from children trick or treating, to musicians performing, to a grandma. Shown here is a scene depicting a day at the farmers market.
“The Soul of Arkansas,” an exhibit of 40 paintings by internationally acclaimed artist Longhua Xu, will open in October in the Hot Springs Convention Center. The new exhibit will open to the public October 5 after a private showing October 4.
“The north concourse of the convention center is being converted into an art gallery for the Longhua Xu exhibit, hopefully the first of many temporary exhibits in the space,” said Mary Zunick, cultural affairs manager for Visit Hot Springs, which operates the Convention Center and Bank of the Ozarks Arena. The exhibit’s 40 paintings are “of people of all ages, races and shapes — everything from children trick or treating, to musicians performing, to a grandma, a farmer, truly a representation of the people of Arkansas. This exhibit is the embodiment of the connection to his adopted hometown.”
Xu is a 30-year resident of Hot Springs, having settled there after emigrating from China following the country’s Great Cultural Revolution. His massive 1992 sculpture of “Mother Nature” has been a focus of the city’s historic downtown district since 1992.
Xu’s interest in art began as a child in China when his older brother Binghue would take him to the park to paint landscapes. As his talents blossomed, the Chinese National Arts and Crafts Company — created after the reopening of trade relations between the United States and China — selected him, as part of an elite group, to learn more traditional Chinese art at Luo Qing in 1971. Xu graduated from East China University of Technology with a degree in Fine Arts and went on to teach art at Shanghai University of Technology until 1989.
He began displaying his art nationally in 1972, with several exhibitions all over the country, including the Shanghai Art Museum. He also erected several monumental sculptures in Shanghai. Many of his works were published in nationally distributed magazines in China and presented as national gifts to foreign dignitaries. One of his sculptures was selected to be in the Complete Works of World Master Sculpture (The End of the 19th Century to Present.)
In 1989, he was invited to immigrate to the United States with the title of “Outstanding Artist” under the “Extraordinary Ability” program. He felt that in America there would be more access to artists from all over the world.
Several of his works have gone on to be designated national treasures and cataloged in the Smithsonian Institution Catalogue of Great Public Works.
Although sculpture is his passion, he loves all art media. He has always said that, “In order to fully express one’s ideas, thoughts and emotions, one must be proficient in all techniques of art. Since art is not separated by country or race, then it should also not be separated by technique or medium. This way, the expression of those ideas and visions are limitless.”
Xu continues to explore new avenues of expression with stone carving, relief sculpture, bronze, pottery, oil, acrylic, and even architecture.
For more information, contact Mary Zunick at 501-321-2027.
