On July 28, 2024, "First Acquaintance with St. Petersburg - Young Painter Chu Yifan's Exterior Light Watercolor Painting Exhibition" was exhibited in Dalian. The exhibition is sponsored by Dalian China-Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Exchange Association, and organized by Liaoning Artists Association, Liaoning Academy of Calligraphy and Painting, Dalian Xigang District Cultural Center, and Dalian Shengu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.
In 2024, St. Petersburg, the cultural and artistic capital of Russia, will become a stage for showcasing the artistic talents of young people. Looking back at history, the Russia Academy of Arts (Repin Academy of Fine Arts) injected valuable artistic nourishment into the new Chinese oil painting industry. Today, a new generation of painters is continuing the legend here.
The scene of the opening ceremony
Dalian China-Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Exchange Association: President Wang Xin delivered a speech
Liaoning Provincial Academy of Painting and Calligraphy: Mr. Qian Zhenjiang, director of the Cooperation Center, delivered a speech
Famous for its unique realist style and sensitive capture of light and shadow, the Exterior Light School not only influenced the development of Impressionism in France, but also blended with local culture in Russia and gave birth to a unique art school. In the summer exterior light sketching practice of the Repin Academy of Fine Arts, young painters are forever fixing the ever-changing beauty of nature on the canvas through exterior light painting.
Chu Yifan, a 13-year-old young painter, studied at the "Yougansong" Art Secondary Vocational College affiliated to the Repin Academy of Fine Arts. His works are full of emotions and rich colors, showing a deep understanding and unique insights into the school of external light painting. Chu Yifan's paintings are not only a record of his personal impressions of life in St. Petersburg, but also the epitome of the artistic dreams of teenagers.
Huang Yin, a famous oil painter, representative of Liaoning Artists Association, and vice president of Dalian Kaiming Painting Institute of China Association for the Promotion of Democracy, delivered a speech
The young painter Chu Yifan thanked him in Chinese and Russian
In the summer of 2023-2024, Chu Yifan's watercolor sketches will be exhibited in a special exhibition. This exhibition is an affirmation of his efforts in the past year, and it is also a demonstration to the world of the new forces of young people in the field of Exterior Light Painting. Each work is a testimony to his keen observation and artistic passion, and each stroke carries the dreams and creativity of youth.
We must not only look back on the past, but also look forward to the future. The growth of young artists requires our common attention and support. Through such exhibitions and exchange activities, we look forward to stimulating the artistic potential of more young people and injecting new vitality into the development of world art.
The scene of the opening ceremony
Group photo of guests
Exhibition view
The exhibition will run from July 28 to July 30, 2024. We look forward to your coming to the exhibition, appreciating these works of art full of potential, and giving criticism and guidance to Chu Yifan. Let's witness his growth together, contribute to the art education of young people, and support him to become a bright star of art in the future.
Some of the works to enjoy:
Church of the Assumption on the Neva River, watercolor, 24x18cm, 2024
Sailing on the Neva, watercolor, 24x18cm, 2024
Isaac Kyiv Cathedral, watercolor, 40x30cm, 2023
The Ancient Holy Orthodox Church, watercolor, 30x20cm, 2024
Icebreaker on the Neva River, watercolor, 30x20cm, 2024
Streets of the Old City, Watercolor, 38x26cm, 2023
Bridge at the Edge of the Park, watercolor, 30x40cm, 2023
Young Chu Yifan
Chu Yifan: Boy, 13 years old. Born in Dalian (Liaoning Province, China) in May 2011, he began painting ducks at the age of 3 in 2014 and studied with Viktoria · Chelenyakova, a doctor of art from Ukraine at the age of 5, painting with various materials: gouache, acrylic, watercolor, dry crayons, oil crayons, etc.
Chu Yifan paints still lifes and subject matter creation, but he likes exterior light sketching the most. Under the leadership of Viktoria · Celeniakova, Chu Yifan became a frequent participant in the International Children's Exterior Light Sketching Competition.
In August 2023, at the age of 12, the young painter Chu Yifan was admitted to the professional oil painting class of the St. Petersburg State Academy of Fine Arts "Yogansong" Art Secondary Vocational College affiliated to the Russia Academy of Arts (hereinafter referred to as the Repin Academy of Fine Arts), becoming the first Chinese student after the school was upgraded from an art school to a vocational secondary school and opened a professional oil painting class.
The paintings of the juvenile painter Chu Yifan are characterized by emotional richness and color complexity, and imagination and initial impressions of life in St. Petersburg are strikingly intertwined in the works of the juvenile painter.
Exterior Light Sketching Contest Awards:
2017: Grand Prize, 2nd International Children's Art Festival Exterior Light Sketching Competition, Serre, Greece;
2018, 2019: 3rd and 2nd Prizes, International Children's Light Sketching Competition, Pesaro, Italy;
2019: Gold Medal, International Children's Light Sketching Competition, Montenegro;
Solo Exhibitions:
2017: "Sea · Imagination" Ningbo, China
2019: The Eyes of Freedom, Ningbo, China